Trump ready ‘anytime, anyplace’ for debates
WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign formally asked the Commission on Presidential Debates on Thursday to move up its fall schedule as soon as possible, potentially trying to pressure President Joe Biden into earlier debates in a heated election season.
“Trump is willing to debate anytime, anyplace, and anywhere – and the time to start these debates is now,” the letter from the Trump campaign said.
The Biden campaign, which has not yet committed to any debates, did not immediately comment on Trump’s request.
Trump refused to debate Republican opponents during the GOP primary. Before he clinched the Republican nomination, he claimed he didn’t want to let his former challengers, such as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron Desantis, take shots at him as he led the Republican field.
But the former president is taking a decidedly different tactic with regard to the general election against Biden.
“I think it is important that we debate and the earlier the better because people have to find out what is going on with America,” Trump told Fox News Digital as the letter went to the debate commission.
More than two years ago, the Republican National Committee told the Commission on Presidential Debates that its 2024 nominee would not participate unless changes were made in terms of selecting moderators and scheduling debates before early voting began. Trump had claimed without evidence the commission was biased against him during the 2020 race against Biden.
It wasn’t immediately clear on Thursday whether the RNC’S requests were granted or withdrawn.
No presumptive presidential nominee has ever agreed to – or proposed – a debate before their nominating conventions. Trump has been calling for early debates ever since he wrapped up the GOP nomination in early March.
The commission has scheduled three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate in September and October.
The first presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 16.