President Joe Biden has accepted former President Donald Trump’s challenge for presidential debates, but not without setting his own terms and conditions. In a fiery video message released on Wednesday, Biden called out Trump for two debates, one in June and another in September, along with a vice presidential debate in July.
Biden’s campaign has laid out specific terms for these debates, including a request for the first debate to be held in late June, after the completion of Trump’s ongoing criminal trial in New York and Biden’s return from the G7 Summit in Italy. The second debate is proposed for early September.
While Trump has quickly accepted Biden’s proposed debate schedule, he has suggested more than two debates at a “very large venue.” Biden’s team, however, has stated that the debates should be one-on-one and focus solely on Biden and Trump, excluding independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. from the stage.
The Biden campaign has also expressed concerns regarding the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has managed these debates since 1988. They have proposed that journalistic organizations like CBS News, ABC News, CNN, and Telemundo host the debates instead, citing the commission’s failure to implement regulations and control unruly crowds during the 2020 debates.
Furthermore, the campaign has outlined rules for the debates, including time limitations for questions and responses, and restrictions on microphone usage to ensure equal time for both candidates. These measures aim to prevent a repeat of the chaotic first debate in 2020, where Trump’s constant interruptions and unruly behavior disrupted the proceedings.
The upcoming debates are expected to be pivotal in shaping the 2022 presidential elections, as Trump seeks a second term in office. According to recent polls, Trump is currently leading Biden in several key swing states, including Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, raising concerns about Biden’s chances of securing a comeback.
