Donald Trump Eager to Debate Joe Biden and Potential Republican Rivals

Former President Donald Trump has expressed his eagerness to debate President Joe Biden, even if the debates are sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump stated that he would be open to participating in 10 debates with Biden, regardless of the sponsor.

Despite the Republican National Committee’s decision to withdraw from the commission’s events in 2022, citing bias, Trump never signed the pledge requiring candidates to only participate in debates sanctioned by the committee. The Commission on Presidential Debates, established in 1987, organizes and oversees the rules, locations, dates, and moderators for each debate.

Trump also mentioned his willingness to engage in a Republican primary debate if the race narrows down to him and a single rival after the New Hampshire primary. While public polls currently show Trump with significant leads in early-voting states, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has been gaining ground, particularly in New Hampshire.

Biden’s campaign has not yet committed to general election debates in 2024. Trump, who skipped all GOP primary debates, emphasized the importance of debating in a general election campaign. The Commission on Presidential Debates has scheduled three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate for September and October 2024.

As president, Trump criticized the commission for unfair treatment and refused to participate in a virtual debate in 2020 due to the pandemic. Both national Democrats and Republicans have expressed frustrations with the commission’s handling of debates. Responses from Biden’s campaign, the commission, and the RNC regarding Trump’s remarks have not been immediately available.