Quick Hit

Former President Donald Trump has issued a call for debates with President Joe Biden "anytime, anywhere, anyplace," ahead of the 2024 general election. The call was made on Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, following the suspension of Nikki Haley's campaign, his last-standing Republican opponent.

Key Details

• Trump's call for debates was made on his social media platform, Truth Social, and he expressed willingness for the debates to be run by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) or the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
• The Republican National Committee (RNC) in 2022 unanimously voted to withdraw from the CPD, citing bias and refusal to enact reforms for fair debates.
• White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, when asked if Biden would debate Trump, did not provide a direct response, stating it was a matter for the campaign to address.

Diving Deeper

Trump's call for debates comes at a time when the political landscape is heating up ahead of the 2024 general election. The former president, who is the presumptive GOP nominee, emphasized the importance of these debates for the good of the country. "It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People," Trump posted on Wednesday.

However, the Biden campaign seems to be taking a different approach. Michael Tyler, Biden campaign communications director, suggested that Trump's call for debates was a desperate attempt to gain attention and expand his appeal beyond his base. He also invited Trump to watch the State of the Union address, hinting that Trump might learn something about uniting people and delivering for the American people.

Interestingly, Trump also signaled his intention to provide a live commentary of Biden's State of the Union address on his social media platform. He promised to correct any inaccurate statements, especially those related to the border and the alleged weaponization of the Department of Justice, FBI, and District Attorneys against him.

Meanwhile, the RNC's withdrawal from the CPD in 2022 raises questions about the format and organization of the proposed debates. The RNC has criticized the CPD for bias and refusal to enact reforms for fair debates. However, it has also clarified that it is not moving away from the presidential debate format, but is rather objecting to the CPD's control over the process.

As the 2024 general election approaches, the possibility of debates between Trump and Biden is a topic of interest. However, the White House has yet to provide a clear response to Trump's call. When asked about the possibility of debates, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that it was a matter for the campaign to address.

"Donald Trump" by Gage Skidmore licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED.