Special Poll
After opting out of the Republican primary debates, former President Trump is now extending an invitation to President Biden for a series of debates as they prepare for a potential electoral face-off in November.
Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday evening to express the importance of these debates for the nation. “For the betterment of our country, it’s critical that Joe Biden and I engage in debates on issues crucial to America and its citizens. I am hence requesting debates to be held anytime, anywhere,” he stated.
He suggested that the debates could be organized by either the Democratic National Committee (DNC) or its affiliate, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), indicating his eagerness for a response and thanking for the consideration of his proposal.
This push for debates follows Nikki Haley’s announcement of suspending her campaign for the presidency after significant defeats to Trump in the early primaries and Super Tuesday. Despite his commanding lead in the polls, Trump had previously abstained from participating in the Republican primary debates.
In a December radio interview with Hugh Hewitt, Trump expressed anticipation for debating Biden, proposing up to ten debates. He reiterated last month his readiness to debate “as many times as necessary,” citing it as an “obligation” for the leading candidates of both parties.
Responding to Trump’s enthusiasm for debates, Biden humorously remarked last month, “If I were him, I’d want to debate me, too,” adding, “He’s got nothing else to do.”
However, the Biden campaign has downplayed Trump’s calls for debates as a mere quest for attention. Michael Tyler, the communications director for Biden’s campaign, commented, “Donald Trump is clearly seeking attention and trying to broaden his appeal beyond the MAGA base. We’ll address this at the right time in the cycle. If he’s eager to see President Biden in prime time, there’s no need to wait. He can join the millions watching the State of the Union tomorrow night and perhaps learn about unity and delivering for the American people.”