Now that he has been declared the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee, former President Donald Trump wants to debate against President Joe Biden before the 2024 general election. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, called for debates between him and Biden, saying he is willing to participate “anytime, anywhere, anyplace.”
Trump calls for debates with Biden 'anytime, anywhere, anyplace' https://t.co/BhzKOM9NnH
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 6, 2024
“It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People. Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE! The Debates can be run by the Corrupt DNC, or their Subsidiary, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD),” he wrote.
“I look forward to receiving a response. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.
Biden’s campaign was, however, not having it, as the campaign communications director Michael Tyler appeared to indirectly reject the offer during a discussion with Fox News Digital.
“I know Donald Trump’s thirsty for attention and struggling to expand his appeal beyond the MAGA base — and that’s a conversation we’ll have at the appropriate time in this cycle. But if he’s so desperate to see President Biden in prime time, he doesn’t have to wait!” he said.
“He can join the tens of millions of Americans who will tune in to watch the State of the Union tomorrow night. He might even learn a thing or two about bringing people together and actually delivering for the American people,” he added.
When asked if Biden would take up the challenge and debate Trump, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not provide a definitive response.
“That’s something for the campaign to speak to,” she said.
Trump has it in his plans to watch Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday, as he said in another post to Truth Social. Beyond just watching, the GOP presidential candidate plans to use the president’s address to campaign and straighten out any inaccuracies Biden tries to sell to the American people.
“I am pleased to inform you that tomorrow night we will be doing a LIVE, Play by Play, of Crooked Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address. I will correct, in rapid response, any and all inaccurate Statements, especially pertaining to the Border and his Weaponization of the DOJ, FBI, A.G.s, and District Attorneys, to go after his Political Opponent, ME (something never done before in this Country!),” the post read.
“We did this once before to tremendous success – Beating All Records. It is important for the Country to get the TRUTH!” Trump added.
Trump’s call for a debate comes a few hours after former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley dropped out of the GOP presidential race, leaving him as the last standing opponent.
Trump had previously indicated an interest in debating Biden even though he did not participate in any of the Republican primary debates. During a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt in December, the GOP frontrunner suggested 10 debates between him and Biden. He also said during a Fox News town hall in February that he was willing to debate Biden as many times as is needed.
According to him, he and Biden have an “obligation” to debate as their respective party’s frontrunners.
Biden did not sound pleased with the idea. When asked about it, he dismissed the debate as Trump having “nothing else to do,” saying, “If I were him, I would want to debate me, too.”
