Trump throws down the debate gauntlet: Donald tells Biden he wants a primetime showdown next week and offers to come to the White House
Donald Trump seized on President Joe Biden’s statement that he would “love” to debate and offered to meet his rival immediately at the courthouse or the White House.
“He can do it whenever he wants, including tonight. I’m ready. Here we are. I invited him to the courthouse,” Trump said Friday afternoon.
Trump signaled a willingness to be flexible on location and timing, although daylong court hearings scheduled for most of the week limit his options.
“I just want to say that I have invited Biden to a debate,” he said in Manhattan criminal court at the end of a day of testimony from ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and longtime Trump Organization aide Rhona Graff.
‘He can do it whenever he wants, including tonight. Ready, where we are. I invited him to the courthouse,” Trump said, praising a venue he had previously criticized for “freezing” temperatures.
“But we’re prepared to do it Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Thursday night or Friday night on national television. We are ready. Just tell me where,” he said.
“We’ll do it in the White House, which would actually be very comfortable!” he joked.
Former President Donald Trump said he was willing to debate President Biden “at any time,” and said he would do so as early as tonight, with a showdown at a criminal courthouse in Manhattan where his Stormy Daniels trial is underway , or at the White House
An immediate presidential debate could cause logistical problems on stage and at home. Not only is there no location or moderator set up, but Trump started the day by wishing a happy birthday to his wife Melania, who he said was at home at Mar-a-Lago. He said he had plans to return there on Friday.
Trump spoke hours after Biden has finally confirmed that he is ready to debate.
The 81-year-old confirmed he is “delighted” to take the stage with his 77-year-old rival Friday morning in a softball interview with Howard Stern.
The White House and the Biden-Harris campaign have been dancing around questions about the debate for months.
“I’m there somewhere,” he said when asked if he was willing to debate Trump.
‘I do not know when. I’m happy to debate with him.’
President Joe Biden has finally confirmed that he is willing to debate Donald Trump before the 2024 election
Trump’s senior adviser Chris LaCivita responded to Biden’s comments for several minutes.
“Okay, let’s set it up,” he posted on X.
Trump also responded during a break from the hush money trial in Manhattan with a message on Truth Social.
But Trump himself has previously attacked the bipartisan commission on presidential debates and blown up standards by bringing in a rape accuser of Bill Clinton in 2016 and a former business associate of Hunter Biden in 2020.
Trump has also railed against debate moderators, complained about his microphone during a 2016 clash with Hillary Clinton and skipped a 2020 debate.
Trump had previously expanded the offer online, amid his attacks on a criminal trial he called “rigged” and claims sent from Washington.
“Crooked Joe Biden Just Announced He’s Willing to Debate! Everyone knows he doesn’t really mean it, but just in case he does, I say: EVERYWHERE, ALWAYS, EVERYWHERE, an old expression used by Fighters.
“I propose Monday night, Tuesday night or Wednesday night at my rally in Michigan, a state he is in the process of destroying with his EV mandate.
“Alternatively, even though he probably doesn’t know it, and so do I, he is in New York City today, stuck in one of the many lawsuits he has filed in election interference against a political opponent – an ongoing witch hunt! It’s the only way he thinks he can win.
‘Let’s have the debate in the courthouse tonight – I’ll wait for it on national television!
Three presidential debates are scheduled before the November 5 general election.
Trump has vowed for weeks to take on his Democratic opponent “anywhere, at any time” before millions of Americans cast their ballots in a rematch of the 2020 election.
Biden and Trump are already at each other’s throats, just seven months until the vote.
The 81-year-old confirmed he’s “happy” to take the stage with his 77-year-old rival in a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning
Trump’s senior adviser Chris LaCivita responded to Biden’s comments for several minutes. “Okay, let’s set it up,” he posted on X.
The president has mocked the Republican at glitzy fundraisers for “bleaching” his hair and hinted he deserves to be beaten.
Trump has also berated Biden on most days he was in court for the hush money trial in Manhattan.
He claims the Democrat is behind his legal battle and has also regularly scrutinized his fitness for office.