Christian Smith
Washington (NewsNation) — It’s been almost four years since the last confrontation on stage. Now, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are preparing to come face to face once again.
The dates for the debates are scheduled for June and September.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump agreed Wednesday to hold two campaign debates — the first on June 27, hosted by CNN and the second on Sept. 10, hosted by ABC — setting the stage for their first presidential confrontation takes place in just over a month.
But many details still need to be worked out. There are potential aspects of shape and clipping of microphones. There are also questions about whether the third-party candidate, Robert Kennedy Jr., will meet the requirements and how that could harm Biden and Trump’s performance.
The quick agreement on the schedule followed the Democrat’s announcement that he would not participate in the fall presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades. Instead, the Biden campaign proposed that media outlets directly organize debates between the presumptive Democratic and Republican candidates.
The debate is so unusually early in the political calendar that neither Biden nor Trump will have formally accepted their party’s nomination.
Hours later, Biden said he accepted an invitation from CNN, adding: “It’s up to you, Donald.” Trump, who insisted he would debate Biden anytime, anywhere, said on Truth Social that he would be there too, adding, “Let’s get ready for the Rumble!!!” Soon after, they agreed to the second debate on ABC.
“Trump says he will provide his own transportation,” Biden wrote in the X, attacking the perks of the position. “I’ll bring my plane too. I intend to keep it for another four years.”
The speed with which the confrontations happened reflects how each of the two unpopular candidates thinks they can get the better of their opponent in a direct confrontation. Trump and his team are convinced that the debates will exacerbate voters’ concerns about Biden’s age and competence, while Biden’s team believes that Trump’s often incendiary rhetoric will remind voters of why they voted for him. out of the White House four years ago.
On the vice presidential front, Kamala Harris accepted an invitation from CBS News to debate former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick this summer, Biden’s campaign said Thursday, while the Republican said it could wait until his party’s convention in July to announce his choice.
Harris’ team told the network that she would debate in studio on Tuesday, July 23, or Tuesday, August 13, and encouraged the Trump campaign to agree to one of the dates for her eventual vice-presidential pick. president. The Trump campaign did not immediately comment on the debate invitation.
Trump, in an interview with television station TMJ4 recorded in New York, said there was “a good chance” he would announce his vice presidential pick at the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee, which begins July 15, and not before.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
