- Trump signaled his desire for a rematch in the debate with President Joe Biden
- Both Biden and Trump shifted into general election mode after the Super Tuesday primaries.
- Trump has long criticized the Presidential Debate Commission for being biased.
Former President Donald Trump agreed Wednesday to debate President Joe Biden, even as the White House balked at committing Biden to a series of presidential debates in the general election.
“It is important, for the good of our country, that Joe Biden and I debate issues so vital to America and the American people,” Trump said. wrote on his Truth Social media platform. ‘That’s why I call for debates, ALWAYS, EVERYWHERE, EVERYWHERE!’
The president pledged to cooperate with the Commission on presidential debates, despite a long history of criticism of liberal bias against the commission. He said he would work with the committee, even as he accused them Wednesday of being an “affiliate” of the Democratic National Committee.
Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, challenged President Joe Biden to a series of debates
President Joe Biden and his campaign have still not committed to the presidential debates
Trump and the Republican National Committee have complained that Republicans on the committee are terribly biased against the former president.
In April 2022, the Republican National Committee voted unanimously to leave the Commission on Presidential Debates, criticizing the organization for refusing to implement “simple and common sense reforms” to ensure fair debate.
Despite his concerns about the commission, Trump seemed eager for a rematch with Biden.
He issued his debate challenge to Biden not long after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to commit Biden to the debates during the White House news conference.
Fox News reporter Peter Doocy repeatedly asked Jean-Pierre about the debates, but she repeatedly pointed to the question about Biden’s presidential campaign.
“You asked me three, four, five different times in different ways,” Jean-Pierre replied, refusing to answer the question.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to commit to Biden’s presence at the presidential debates
Trump adviser Jason Miller said the debate could take place “during Joe’s waking hours.”
The Biden campaign has not committed to debate the president and declined to respond to reporters seeking comment.
The committee announced the dates and locations for the November debates: September 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos, October 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg and October 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The vice presidential debate will take place on September 25 at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Trump’s campaign staff jumped on the debate challenge.
“President Trump is willing to debate Crooked Joe Biden during Joe’s waking hours, which typically means noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., or even 4 p.m..” wrote Trump senior adviser Jason Miller on X. ‘If they give Crooked Joe a B12 shot, we can do it even in prime time!’
Trump also announced Wednesday that he would give a live response to Biden’s State of the Union address scheduled for Thursday evening.
“I will, in swift response, correct all inaccurate statements, especially regarding the border and his arming of the DOJ, FBI, AGs and prosecutors to go after his political opponent ME (something that is still has never been done before in this Country!),” he wrote.