The landscape of the upcoming 2024 presidential debates in the United States is poised to undergo significant changes if President Joe Biden’s recent proposal, put forth on Wednesday, garners acceptance from both the organizing body and the presumptive Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
Outlined in a missive directed to the Commission on Presidential Debates, a longtime organizer of such political showdowns, the Biden campaign suggests a deviation from the previous norm: two debates instead of the standard three. These proposed debates, slated for June and September as opposed to the original September and October timeline, would notably lack live audiences. Additionally, a new stipulation to have microphones automatically muted when time to speak is up is on the table.
The letter, from the top of Biden campaign chair Jennifer O'Malley Dillon and first reported by The New York Times, states that one condition of the President's participation is that debates must be moderated by a legitimate news operation.
The Biden campaign wants the debates to take place between him and Trump, no third person, who is not named but is clearly Robert Kennedy Jr.
Reflecting on past encounters, Biden asserts in a campaign video, “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020."
“Since then he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal, I’ll even do it twice. So let’s pick the dates, Donald – I hear you’re free on Wednesdays,” alluding to Trump’s current legal proceedings in New York, which observe Wednesday recesses.
Furthering the dialogue, Biden communicates via a post on a digital platform, confirming his acceptance of an invitation from @CNN for a June 27th debate, prodding Trump to respond:“I’ve received and accepted an invitation from @CNN for a debate on June 27th. Over to you, Donald. As you said: anywhere, any time, any place.”
Trump reciprocates acceptance in an antecedent post on Truth Social, his social media venture, proclaiming,“I am Ready and Willing to debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times, June and September.”
while advocating for a “large venue” to imbue the proceedings with fervor.Yet, this may be one of those instances when a negotiation started with smiles and happy feelings, only for the underlying intentions to crystallize during ensuing negotiations, considering Trump's past abstention from Republican primary debates despite clamors from contenders.
The proposed changes by the Biden campaign would only hope to avoid a repeat of the controversial 2020 debates, particularly marked by Trump's constant interruption and Biden's now-famous 'Will you shut up, man? This is so unpresidential.
Moreover, Trump’s subsequent COVID-19 diagnosis, following his appearance at the debate sans mask, underscored the Biden campaign’s chagrin at the commission’s perceived failure to enforce regulations, especially amidst the throes of the pandemic’s devastating toll in the U.S.
