President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to participate in two campaign debates, with the first scheduled for June 27 and hosted by CNN.
This agreement follows Biden’s decision not to engage in fall debates organized by the traditional nonpartisan commission.
Instead, Biden’s campaign proposed directly organizing debates with media outlets, with the first in June and the second in September before early voting begins. Trump expressed readiness to debate Biden at these proposed times.
However, significant differences remain between the two camps regarding debate organization, including the selection of media partners, moderators, locations, and rules. Biden’s proposal would exclude third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Biden’s campaign has criticized the nonpartisan commission for not enforcing rules evenly during the 2020 debates and is seeking alternative ways to conduct the debates.
Meanwhile, Trump has advocated for more and earlier debates, arguing for a large live audience.
The debates are crucial to both campaigns, especially given the significant challenges facing American democracy and the upcoming 2024 election.
Despite their differences, both Biden and Trump have expressed willingness to engage in these debates, with Trump asserting that he has won previous debates against Biden and challenging him to face off again.
