US presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump have reached an agreement to engage in presidential debates in June and September, following a challenge from the Democratic incumbent and a ready response from the embattled Republican.
The inaugural debate, organised by CNN, is scheduled to take place on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, Trump and Biden have consented to a second debate on September 10 on ABC.
This agreement resolves months of uncertainty surrounding the likelihood of presidential debates between the candidates and notably bypasses the traditional commission that has overseen debates since 1988.
Biden, aged 81, has outlined his terms, including the absence of a studio audience, aiming to avoid the chaotic encounters with Trump during the 2020 election.
Trump, aged 77, has accepted the proposed dates, albeit proposing a contrasting approach with a larger venue for heightened excitement. His campaign has advocated for additional presidential debates in July and August.
In a video on X, Biden taunted Trump regarding his ongoing legal issues in New York, suggesting his availability on Wednesdays, which coincide with a mid-week break in Trump’s trial proceedings.
Accepting the ABC invitation, Biden quipped about transportation arrangements, affirming his intent to utilise his plane for the occasion, humorously hinting at another four-year tenure.
Trump has also committed to a third debate on Fox News, scheduled for October 2, although confirmation from the president’s camp is pending.
CNN has confirmed that its debate will proceed without an audience to allow candidates to maximise their speaking time.
Biden’s decision to engage in presidential debates with Trump aims at reinserting the Republican figure into American households ahead of the November election, possibly to counter Trump’s lead in battleground states. The Biden campaign seeks to remind voters of Trump’s perceived shortcomings, contrasting them with his promises of expanded presidential authority and retribution in a potential second term.
Trump, eager to depict Biden as unfit for leadership, has eagerly accepted the debate challenge, suggesting more than two debates and advocating for larger venues despite Biden’s purported aversion to crowds.
The tense 2020 debates between the candidates are a precedent for what may come.
In a letter to the US election debates commission, Biden’s campaign chief outlined their intention to bypass the commission’s scheduled debates in favour of engagements organised by news outlets, emphasising a focus on the candidates and a moderator, without the presence of audience members.
