Does Biden really want this?
President Biden expressed his openness to debating former President Trump during an interview with radio host Howard Stern, marking a shift from his previous stance. When prompted by Stern about the possibility of debating Trump, Biden responded affirmatively, stating, “I am, somewhere, I don’t know when. I’m happy to debate him.” This contrasted with his earlier statement to reporters, where he indicated that his willingness to debate would depend on Trump’s behavior.
Trump’s campaign seized upon Biden’s statement, with campaign adviser Chris LaCivita expressing eagerness to arrange the debate. Trump himself quickly responded on his social media platform, challenging Biden to a debate in various locations, including suggesting the courthouse in New York, where Trump was facing trial.
Throughout the lead-up to the potential debate, Trump had been vocal about his desire to engage in debates with Biden, emphasizing the importance of discussing crucial issues facing the nation. He called for debates “anytime, anywhere, anyplace,” whether organized by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) or the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
The 2020 presidential election saw only two debates between Trump and Biden, deviating from the tradition of three debates between major candidates. One debate was canceled due to Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis and his refusal to participate remotely.
Howard Stern injected a hypothetical scenario into the conversation, imagining Biden confronting Trump about his controversial phone call with Georgia election officials in 2021, wherein Trump urged officials to “find votes” for him. Stern suggested that such an act should disqualify Trump from running. In response, Biden condemned Trump’s actions surrounding the Capitol riot on January 6th.
The prospect of a Biden-Trump debate generated significant interest and anticipation as both camps appeared willing to engage in a high-stakes political showdown.
