Why is Biden hiding from Trump?
President Biden responded to a recent challenge posed by former President Trump, who called for an “immediate” debate during a radio interview with conservative pundit Dan Bongino. Trump expressed his belief that such a debate would serve the nation’s interests.
When questioned about Trump’s proposal while campaigning in Nevada later that day, Biden refused to agree to a debate and sidestepped the question saying, “Right away? Well, if I were him, I might want to debate me too. Seems like he’s got some free time on his hands.”
The dynamics surrounding the potential general election debates remain uncertain, particularly with Trump’s dominant position in the GOP primary. The Republican National Committee’s withdrawal from the Commission on Presidential Debates in 2022, coupled with Trump’s criticism of the organization’s integrity, adds to the uncertainty.
Trump’s newfound openness to debating contrasts sharply with his previous stance, where he adamantly refused to engage with primary challengers like former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Despite Haley’s participation in multiple debates during the primary campaign, Trump’s camp justified his absence based on his substantial lead in GOP polls.
As of now, the debate commission has outlined plans for three general election debates, yet neither Trump nor Biden has publicly committed to them. The proposed debates are scheduled for September 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos, October 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg, and October 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
WATCH:
This is the LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD.
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) February 6, 2024
"Trump says he's ready to debate you right now. Do you accept?"
BIDEN (confused and lost): "If I were him, I'd wanna debate me, too!" pic.twitter.com/kldZ0ORLnP