U. S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump agreed Wednesday to hold two crossover debates, the first on June 27 on CNN and the second on Sept. 10 on ABC, laying the groundwork for the first presidential showdown in a few weeks.
The swift agreement on the timing of the meeting comes on the heels of the Democrat’s announcement that he would not participate in the fall presidential debates sponsored through the nonpartisan committee that has organized them for more than three decades.
Instead, Biden’s crusade proposed that the media organize debates with presumptive Democratic and Republican candidates, with the former taking positions in late June and the latter in September before early voting begins.
Trump, in an article on his Truth Social website, said he was “ready and willing to debate” with Biden at the proposed timeframes.
Hours later, Biden had accepted an invitation from CNN for a debate in June, adding, “Toyou, Donald. “
Trump said on Truth Social that he would be there, adding, “Let’s get ready for the Rumble!!”And shortly thereafter they agreed to the second debate on ABC.
“Trump says he’ll ride his own transportation,” Biden wrote on X. “I’ll also bring my plane. I plan to stay with him for 4 years. “
The speed with which the clashes unfold reflects how one of the two deeply unpopular candidates believes he can prevail over his opponent in a head-to-head showdown.
The first debate will take place in a busy and volatile political heat, following the expected conclusion of Trump’s secret trial in New York, Biden’s trips to France and Italy, the end of the Supreme Court’s term and the scheduled start of two criminal trials against the president’s son, Hunter Biden.
CNN political anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will participate in the debate, which will be held at their Atlanta studios.
Disagreements over moderators and debate rules are among the issues that led to the formation of the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1987.
The two campaigns and television networks have had weeks of informal discussions about tactics to circumvent the commission’s control over presidential debates, due to years of court cases and perceived resentment, according to two other people familiar with the matter.
CNN also said it “will not be present” at their debate, to “ensure applicants can maximize their allotted time. ”
On Wednesday morning, Trump expressed a preference for having a giant audience.
“I would propose more than two debates and, for the sake of excitement, a very giant room, even though Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds, it’s only because he doesn’t perceive them,” Trump said. “When, I’ll be there. “
Trump has insisted that debates be held earlier and earlier, arguing that the electorate deserves to be able to see the two men face off long before early voting begins in September.
He has said he would debate Biden “anytime, anywhere, anywhere,” and even proposed that the two men face off in front of the Manhattan courthouse, where he is ultimately on criminal trial.
Biden had proposed excluding third-party candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Under debate commission rules, Kennedy or other outside candidates can only qualify if they get enough votes to claim 270 electoral votes and if they get 15 percent or more in a series of four separate national polls.
“The voting window for debate eligibility opened on March 13, 2024, and ends seven days prior to the debate date,” CNN said in a press release.
Kennedy accused Biden and Trump of “conspiring to lock America into a face-to-face that 70% say they don’t want. “
“They want to exclude me from their debate because they’re afraid I’ll win,” Kennedy said.
“Keeping viable candidates out of the debate undermines democracy. “
CNN left the door open for Kennedy to participate if he or any other candidate met similar requirements from the commission and polls.
Public Relations, CBC P. O. P. Box 500, Toronto Station, ON Canada, M5W 1E6
Toll Free (Canada only): 1-866-306-4636
It is a precedent for CBC to create products that are available to everyone in Canada, adding other people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive disabilities.
Subtitles and described videos are available for many of the CBC systems in CBC Gem.