The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced it plans to move forward with its originally announced debate schedule, with candidates needing to qualify for the stage in early September. This comes in response to former President Donald J. Trump challenging Democrat incumbent Joe Biden to a series of additional debate contests that would start far earlier in the campaign than the plan released by the CPD.
“The Presidential Debate Commission’s schedule does not begin until after millions of Americans will have already cast their ballots,” Trump campaign advisers Chris LaCavita and Susie Wiles said in a statement. They added: “This is unacceptable, and by refusing to move up the debates, they are doing a grave disservice to the American public who deserve to hear from both candidates before voting begins.”
Last week, during an appearance on Howard Stern’s Serius XM Radio show, Biden conceded he would debate his Republican challenger. Responding quickly through a post on Truth Social, Trump said he’d debate the 81-year-old Biden “ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE.” The former Republican President even suggested the two square off that very day after his trial adjourned at the Manhattan courthouse. Biden did not respond to the challenge.
WHEN ARE THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES?
The Trump campaign pushed the commission to hold debates earlier than planned, noting that early voting in some states will have already begun prior to the first CPD debate. Currently, Biden and Trump won’t debate until September 16 at Texas State University. A second debate is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1 (VA), and a third for October 9 (UT). A Vice Presidential debate is expected on September 25 (PA).
The National Pulse previously reported on the possibility of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. joining Trump and Biden on the debate stage. Currently, he remains short of the requisite state ballots and polling requirements needed to participate in the CPD-run presidential debates this fall.