President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have reached an agreement to engage in two campaign debates, marking the beginning of their presidential face-offs in just over a month.
The first debate, slated for June 27, will be hosted by CNN, followed by a second debate on Sept. 10, hosted by ABC. The swift agreement on the debate schedule followed Biden’s announcement that he would not participate in the fall debates organized by the nonpartisan commission,
Proposing instead that media outlets directly organize the debates between the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees. Biden swiftly accepted CNN’s invitation, challenging Trump with, “Over to you,
Donald,” to which Trump responded on Truth Social, affirming his participation and adding, “Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!” The agreement for the second debate on ABC soon followed.
Trading jabs on social media, Biden and Trump each claimed victory in their 2020 debates and expressed confidence in their ability to outdo the other in the upcoming face-offs.
CNN announced that its debate, to be held in its Atlanta studios at 9 p.m. EDT with no audience present, would be moderated by anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. ABC’s event details were not disclosed, but the network confirmed it would be moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.
The formation of the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1987 was prompted by disagreements about moderators and rules. The two campaigns and television networks engaged in weeks of informal talks to bypass the commission’s control over presidential debates.
Biden’s campaign proposed excluding third-party candidates from the debates, prompting criticism from figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who accused both Biden and Trump of attempting to undermine democracy by excluding viable candidates.
The debates, the first to be hosted by individual networks since 1987, will require candidates to reach at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters. told by The New York Time
Plans for a vice presidential debate have yet to be announced, but Trump has been advocating for more and earlier debates, arguing that voters should see the candidates face off well before early voting begins. He even proposed a debate outside the Manhattan courthouse where he is currently on trial.
