President Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both agreed to take part in two general election debates. These debates are scheduled to take place in June and September.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have reached an agreement to participate in two campaign debates. The first debate, scheduled for June 27, will be hosted by CNN, while the second debate is set to take place on September 10 and will be hosted by ABC. This arrangement paves the way for their highly anticipated presidential face-off, which is just a little over a month away.
The timetable for the fall presidential debates saw a swift agreement after the Democrat made it clear that he would not be participating in debates organized by the nonpartisan commission, a tradition that has been in place for over three decades. In an alternative approach, Biden’s campaign suggested that the debates be organized directly by media outlets, involving the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees.
Both Biden and Trump will not have formally accepted their party’s nomination due to the unusually early debate on the political calendar.
Hours later, Biden accepted an invitation from CNN, playfully challenging Trump with the words, “Over to you, Donald.” Trump, who had previously expressed his willingness to debate Biden at any time and any place, enthusiastically responded on Truth Social, stating, “Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!” It didn’t take long for them to come to an agreement for the second debate, which will be hosted by ABC.
“Trump claims he will organize his own transportation,” Biden stated on X, playfully highlighting the advantages of being in office. “I’ll also bring my plane along. I intend to keep it for another four years.”
The speed at which the debates were organized demonstrates the confidence of both candidates in their ability to outperform their opponent in a direct confrontation. Trump and his team are certain that the debates will highlight concerns about Biden’s age and competence, while Biden’s team believes that Trump’s inflammatory language will remind voters why they chose to remove him from the White House four years ago.
2024 Election: What You Need to Know
The 2024 election is an event that holds significant importance for the future of our nation. As citizens, it is crucial for us to stay informed about the key aspects of this upcoming election. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive overview of what you need to know about the 2024 election.
The 2024 election will serve as a pivotal moment in shaping the political landscape of our country. It will determine who will lead our nation for the next four years, making it essential for voters to be aware of the candidates and their policies. Understanding the candidates’ platforms, their stance on important issues, and their track records can help voters make informed decisions when casting their votes.
One of the primary factors to consider in the 2024 election is the candidates themselves. As potential leaders of our nation, it is important to examine their qualifications, experience, and values. This information can provide valuable insights into their ability to effectively address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Furthermore, understanding the key issues that will shape the 2024 election is crucial. These issues may include healthcare, the economy, climate change, foreign policy, and social justice. By staying informed about these topics, voters can better assess which candidate aligns with their own beliefs and priorities.
Another aspect of the 2024 election to be aware of is the electoral process. Understanding how the electoral system works, including the role of the electoral college, can help voters comprehend how their vote contributes to the overall outcome. Additionally, being familiar with voter registration deadlines, absentee voting options, and early voting opportunities can enable citizens to participate effectively in the election.
Lastly, being aware of the importance of voter turnout is crucial in any election, including the 2024 election. Encouraging fellow citizens to exercise their right to vote can help ensure that our democracy remains strong and vibrant. Every vote counts, and by actively participating in the electoral process, we can collectively shape the future of our nation.
In conclusion, the 2024 election holds immense significance for our country. By staying informed about the candidates, key issues, electoral processes, and the importance of voter turnout, we can all play an active role in shaping the future of our nation. Let us embrace our democratic responsibilities and make informed choices that reflect our values and aspirations.
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- Democracy: American democracy has overcome big stress tests since 2020. More challenges lie ahead in 2024.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
- Read the latest: Follow AP’s complete coverage of this year’s election.
The presidential debates hold immense significance on the political calendar, especially in a year when voters are less than thrilled with their options and have voiced apprehensions about the candidates’ older ages—Biden at 81 and Trump at 77.
Engaging in a lively exchange on social media, the rivals traded playful jabs, with each asserting their triumph from their previous encounter in 2020.
In a recent post on X, President Biden confidently declared that he emerged victorious in two debates against Donald Trump in 2020. He further emphasized that since then, Trump has been noticeably absent from any debate platform. However, Biden wittily challenged Trump’s sudden interest in debating again, stating, “Well, make my day, pal.”
According to Trump, Biden was the worst debater he had ever faced, as he claimed that Biden couldn’t string together two sentences.
The upcoming June debate is set to mark the end of a tumultuous and eventful period. This period includes the anticipated conclusion of Trump’s criminal hush money trial in New York, as well as Biden’s foreign trips to France and Italy. Additionally, it coincides with the conclusion of the Supreme Court’s term and the commencement of two criminal trials for Hunter Biden, the president’s son.
CNN announced that their debate is scheduled to take place at 9 p.m. ET in their Atlanta studios, with no audience present, which is a departure from recent practices. The moderators for this debate will be anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, according to CNN. On the other hand, ABC has not disclosed the location for their event, but they have confirmed that it will be moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis. It is worth noting that disagreements regarding moderators and rules were among the factors that led to the establishment of the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1987.
According to two anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the two campaigns and television networks had engaged in informal discussions for weeks, seeking ways to bypass the commission’s control over presidential debates. This comes after years of complaints and perceived slights.
Biden’s campaign initially suggested excluding third-party candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from the debates completely. However, according to the rules set by the debate commission, third-party candidates like Kennedy could qualify if they achieved ballot access that would give them at least 270 Electoral Votes and if they polled at 15% or higher in a variety of national surveys.
Both CNN and ABC have set the same qualification threshold for candidates, which requires them to achieve a minimum of 15% support in four distinct national polls of registered or likely voters that meet the networks’ standards.
Kennedy fired back, accusing both Biden and Trump of harboring fears that he would emerge victorious. He boldly asserted that their attempts to exclude him from the debate were a direct threat to the very foundations of democracy.
The upcoming debates mark a significant shift in the format as they will be the first televised general election matchups to be hosted by individual networks. In contrast, the 1960 debates, which played a pivotal role in demonstrating the medium’s ability to shape public opinion, were jointly hosted by the prominent networks of the time. Prior to the establishment of the commission in 1987, the presidential debates of 1976, 1980, and 1984 were organized by the League of Women Voters.
There is currently no announcement regarding the plans for a vice presidential debate.
Trump has been advocating for additional and earlier debates, emphasizing the importance of voters witnessing a direct confrontation between the two candidates well before early voting commences in September. In a bold move, he has even suggested hosting a debate outside the Manhattan courthouse, where his ongoing trial is taking place. Additionally, Trump has been provoking Biden by prominently displaying an empty lectern during his rallies.
In a memorandum written to Jen O’Malley Dillon, Chair of the Biden campaign, on Wednesday, senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles posed a challenge to Biden. They proposed that he agree to participate in two more debates, with one scheduled for each month from June to September. They also suggested including a vice presidential debate in the lineup.
The authors of the statement emphasized the importance of providing voters with ample opportunities to familiarize themselves with each candidate’s records and future visions. As such, they expressed their support for additional dates to be added to the election schedule.
Later, Trump took to Truth Social to announce that he had agreed to participate in a third debate, which would be hosted by Fox.
“I am pleased to announce that I will be engaging in a debate with Joe Biden on FoxNews. The debate is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 2nd, with Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum as the hosts. I am grateful for this opportunity. Thank you, DJT!” wrote the President.
In response, O’Malley Dillon accused Trump of repeatedly engaging in deceptive tactics when it comes to debates. She highlighted his pattern of complaining about the rules, only to break them himself, backing out at the eleventh hour, or outright refusing to participate altogether.
“We’re done with the games. No more chaos, no more back-and-forth about debates. If he decides to show up, we’ll see Donald Trump on June 27th in Atlanta,” she declared.
During an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday morning, Trump expressed his doubts about whether Biden would participate in the debates. He proposed that the debates should be extended to two hours and suggested that both candidates should stand throughout. Additionally, he advocated for larger venues to accommodate the anticipated audience.
“It’s just so much more thrilling,” he exclaimed.
Biden’s campaign has harbored a longstanding resentment towards the nonpartisan commission, claiming that it did not consistently enforce its rules during the 2020 Biden-Trump debates. One of the notable instances was when the commission failed to enforce its COVID-19 testing regulations on Trump and his team.
In a letter addressed to the Commission on Presidential Debates, O’Malley Dillon expressed the Biden campaign’s objection to the proposed debate dates in the fall. This concern was shared by the Trump campaign as well, as it would coincide with the start of voting for some Americans. Additionally, she expressed frustration over previous rule violations and the commission’s insistence on conducting the debates with a live audience.
“The debates should prioritize the American voters, who watch from the comfort of their homes, rather than serving as mere entertainment for an in-person audience filled with rowdy and disruptive partisans and donors,” she expressed.
The commission did not have a good relationship with Trump either. When he participated in his first debate against Hillary Clinton in 2016, he had issues with the technical setup, which he was not happy about. Furthermore, he was disappointed when the second debate with Joe Biden had to be cancelled due to his COVID-19 diagnosis. In fact, the Republican National Committee had already made it clear that they would not collaborate with the commission for the upcoming 2024 debates.
In a statement released on May 1, the Trump campaign expressed their dissatisfaction with the debate schedule proposed by the commission, stating that they found it to be unacceptable.
In a statement on Wednesday, the commission emphasized the importance of substantive debates from the top presidential and vice presidential candidates. Their primary goal is to guarantee that these debates consistently occur and are accessible to the broadest possible television, radio, and streaming audience.
