Biden and Trump have agreed to hold two presidential debates, but the president proposed two changes to clear up Trump’s confusion.
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The Biden campaign announced in a letter that they would not participate in the Commission on Presidential Debates schedule, a necessary action because Trump had declined to participate.
Read the letter:
Biden campaign: “The purpose of this letter is to inform the President that he will not participate in the 2024 debate announced by the Commission on Presidential Debates.” They proposed different schedules: one debate in late June, one debate in 2024 held. The vice presidential debate is held in late July. pic.twitter.com/A6fIazJSjG
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) May 15, 2024
Biden and Trump have both agreed to participate in a CNN debate on June 27, before either candidate becomes the official nominee.
Biden wants two presidential debates, one in June and one in September, but Trump wants one debate every month, which makes no sense because Trump is a terrible debater.
Here’s Trump’s letter laying out their proposed timeline:
Memo: 2024 Presidential Debates—Let’s Do More pic.twitter.com/2NHs1b3OSo
—Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 15, 2024
Typically, losing candidates want more debates, so Trump’s desire to have monthly debates is telling.
What changes did Biden propose to the debate?
Biden proposed two changes to the debate that experts have advocated for years. The first change is that there will be no studio audience. The television networks and the Commission on Presidential Debates turned the debates into low-information television shows. Presidential debates have become less and less informative and have become akin to prime-time reality television. Getting rid of the audience and the bullshit around them will force candidates to focus on the issues.
The second proposed change is a big one. Candidates who exceed the time limit or interrupt will have their microphones strictly cut off. Trump’s main debate strategy is to ramble, yell and interrupt, so enforcing strict rules will go a long way toward focusing voters’ attention on what is being said rather than on theatrics.
How did Biden and Trump react to the debate announcement?
Biden released a video announcing his acceptance for the debate:
Biden said: “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, and he has participated in debates since then. Now, he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, friend.” I’ve even done it twice. So let’s pick a date, Donald. I hear you’re free on Wednesday.
Trump posted on the Truth Community website:
Crooked Joe Biden is the worst debater I’ve ever had – he can’t put two sentences together! Crooked was also by far the worst president in American history. It’s time for a debate so he can explain to the American people his devastating open borders policy, his new, ridiculous electric vehicle mandate, his inflation-fighting subsidies, his high taxes, and what he’s truly weak about. Foreign policy that allows the world to “set on fire”. I strongly recommend having more than two debates, requiring a very large venue for excitement purposes, although Biden is said to be afraid of crowds – and that’s just because he doesn’t like crowds. Just tell me when and I’ll be there. “Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!”
Trump later posted that he had accepted a debate on CNN (which has officially announced that it will hold a debate) and a debate on ABC News in September (which may also be held).
Impact of potential debate changes
One of the most significant changes to the new debate system is that networks will make offers to hold debates, which candidates can accept or reject. The presidential cycle will be more like how the party primary debates are decided.
If Biden gets the debate changes he wants, the debates will be more serious and substantive, helping to inform voters more than previous presidential debates.
The Biden campaign noted that with so many people voting early by mail, it was important to finish the debate before people started voting.
I think the June debate is a stupid idea. Candidates should not debate each other before formally accepting nominations. This debate is still months away from people voting, and will surely be forgotten until then.
There’s no way Biden will agree to monthly debates, but at least for now, unless Donald Trump gets angry and decides not to show up, they will happen.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a member of the White House press corps and a congressional reporter for PoliticusUSA. Jason holds a BA in Political Science. His graduate work focuses on public policy, particularly social reform movements.
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