President Biden has agreed to debate former President Trump on June 27th and September 10th, hosted by CNN and ABC, respectively. However, Biden has declined to participate in a debate at Virginia State University (VSU), originally scheduled by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has condemned Biden’s decision, labeling it a snub to students, Virginians, and the nation.
Biden’s campaign has set restrictions on the debates, including a no-audience policy and a TV studio setting with only the candidates and moderator present. Trump has accepted the proposed timeline and urged Biden to honor his commitment to the debates.
The CPD had previously announced the dates and locations for three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate during the 2024 election cycle. The presidential debates were scheduled for September 16th at Texas State University, October 1st at Virginia State University, and October 9th at the University of Utah. The vice presidential debate was set for September 25th at Lafayette College.
Following the news of the debate venue change, VSU released a statement expressing disappointment. They emphasized the significance of hosting a presidential debate and the university’s willingness to contribute to the democratic process. Both the Biden and Trump campaigns have not responded to requests for comment.
Greg Wehner of Fox News Digital, Anders Hagstrom, Brooke Singman, and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
