In the wake of dominating Super Tuesday elections and with Nikki Haley suspending her campaign, former President Donald Trump is actively calling for debates with President Biden in the run-up to the 2024 general election. Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination, made the offer via his Truth Social platform, expressing his willingness to participate “anytime, anywhere, anyplace.” Emphasizing the importance of discussing vital issues facing America, Trump suggested that the debates could be organized by either the Democratic National Committee (DNC) or the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), the latter of which the Republican National Committee (RNC) unanimously withdrew from in 2022.
Trump’s invitation prompted a response from the Biden campaign, with communications director Michael Tyler characterizing Trump’s interest as a bid for attention and an attempt to expand his appeal. Tyler suggested that Trump need not wait for a debate to engage with President Biden, inviting him to watch the State of the Union address. Trump, in turn, announced on Truth Social that he would be providing live commentary during Biden’s State of the Union, vowing to correct any inaccuracies, particularly regarding border issues and the alleged politicization of law enforcement agencies.
Regarding the prospect of debates, the RNC’s withdrawal from the CPD in 2022 was based on objections to the organization’s control over the process, citing bias and a lack of reforms for fair debates. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel underscored the commitment to free and fair debates but criticized the CPD for its refusal to enact simple reforms, such as hosting debates before voting begins and selecting unbiased moderators. The RNC also pointed out that a majority of the CPD’s board members had publicly disparaged former President Trump prior to the 2020 debates.
While White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was noncommittal when asked about Biden debating Trump, stating it’s a matter for the campaign to address, the call for debates sets the stage for a potential high-stakes political showdown between the two prominent figures ahead of the 2024 election.
