Biden, Trump 'Ready To Rumble' As US Presidential Candidates Agree For Election Debates
US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to two election debates in June and September.
Setting the stage for their first presidential face-off, United States President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on Wednesday agreed to hold two election debates ahead of the general elections in Novemeber. The first face off will play out in just a month, with the first debate slated to be held on June 27, which will be hosted by CNN.
The second debate is scheduled to be held on September 10, which will be hosted by ABC. During the debates the presidential rivals will be seen trading barbs during their first on-stage meeting in nearly four years, news agency Associated Press reported.
The agreement to debate came as a surprise when Biden, 81, challenged his Republican rival to "make his day," ending months of uncertainity regarding whether or not the debates would even happen at all.
To this challenge, Trump,77, responded to his Democratic rival quickly that he was all set to "ready to rumble." Following the acceptance of the debate challenge, the CNN, within hours, announced that it would organise the first debate on June 27 in Atlanta. Thereafter, ABC stated that it would host the second debate on September 10, the AFP reported.
With the debate challenge, Biden seemed to be seizing the initiative, proposing both the dates and audience-free format during the debates.
Biden's move also represented his calculative decision to outshine a political showman, Trump, who is leading polls in battleground states. The US President is hoping to overcome the concerns surrounding his age and reminding the voters of the former president's chaotic time in the White House during his tenure.
Biden is looking forward to the debates with Trump, and also said in a video posted on X that the former President lost two debates to him 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," Biden said.
The Democratic presidental nominee, Biden, also hit out at Trump over his ongoing criminal hush-money trial in New York, which has a mid-week break. Taking a jibe at Trump, Biden said: "I hear you're free on Wednesdays."
Donald Trump too did not delay in respomding to Biden and accepted the debate challenge switfly-- suggesting that he had actually been awaiting to get his message out, after being stuck in the court for weeks.
Describing Biden as the "WORST debater" he has "ever faced," Trump said: "Let's get ready to Rumble!!!" as he wrote on his Truth Social app.
"I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds," AFP quoted Trump as saying.
The debates, however, are unsually early in the year, with Trump yet to be anointed as the Republican party's candidate in July during a convention. The Democrats too, are yet to announce its party's official nominee during the summer convention, scheduled to begin on August 19.
Later, Trump said that he had accepted another invitation for a third debate from right-wing Fox News, adding that his campaign called for adding debates in July and August.
However, Biden's campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon, refuted Trump's claim saying that the president had just "made his terms clear for two one-on-one debates."
Details About The Presidential Debates
The first debate will be held at CNN's studios in Atlanta on June 27 at 9 PM (Eastern time).
CNN stated in its statement that no audience will be present as candidates may maximise the time allotted in the debate.
In order to qualify it is essential that candidates receive at least 15 percent in four national polls of likely or registered voters that match CNN's standards.
Although ABC, which will host the second debate, has not given out the details about the venue of the debate or format yet, it has set the same 15 percent polling threshold as CNN.
ABC, however, confirmed that Anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the debate.
As per AP's report, the second debate will take place ahead of early voting in most states. Although, some military and overseas ballots may already be conducted by then.
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