Biden proposes 2 debates with Trump in June and September

President Biden’s campaign proposed two debates with former President Trump on Wednesday, bucking the Commission on Presidential Debates and potentially setting the stage for a faceoff as soon as next month.

The Biden campaign called for the first debate to take place in late June, after the president returns from the Group of Seven summit in Europe and after Trump’s hush money trial in New York will likely have concluded. 

The campaign suggested a second debate in September ahead of the start of early voting in many states, as well as a vice presidential debate in late July after the Republican National Convention.

“As Donald Trump has said he will debate ‘anytime, anywhere,’ we hope both campaigns can quickly accept broadcast media debate invitations on the parameters above,” Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon wrote in a letter to the commission Wednesday. “Americans need a debate on the issues – not a tedious debate about debates.”

The Biden campaign said it would work directly with news organizations to set up the debates, spurring the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has facilitated the debates between presidential candidates since 1988. O’Malley Dillon in her letter suggested coordinating with outlets that hosted GOP primary debates in 2016 and Democratic primary debates in 2020 to avoid any notion of bias.

Trump, who has repeatedly questioned Biden’s mental acuity and ability to do the job, said Wednesday he would accept the terms proposed by the Biden campaign.

“I am Ready and Willing to Debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds – That’s only because he doesn’t get them. Just tell me when, I’ll be there. ‘Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!’”

Negotiations directly between the two campaigns could also keep independent and third-party candidates, most notably Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from joining Biden and Trump on the debate stage. 

There had been uncertainty about whether Biden and Trump could come to an agreement about debates ahead of November. Trump had previously railed against the commission, and he skipped each GOP primary debate, citing his lead in the polls. With a steady lead in battleground state polling, Trump has tried to turn up the pressure on Biden, vowing to debate the incumbent “anytime, anywhere, any place.”

Biden, meanwhile, had for months not firmly committed to debating Trump, only recently telling radio host Howard Stern that he would be happy to do so. On Wednesday, Biden posted a video to social media more directly taking the fight to Trump.

“Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, and since then he hasn’t shown up for a debate,” Biden said in the video. “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 dates, Donald. I hear you’re free on Wednesdays,” he added, a reference to Trump’s weekly off day from court in his hush money trial.

The Commission on Presidential Debate had announced dates for three presidential debates beginning in mid-September. Trump’s campaign had pleaded with the commission to add more debates and host them earlier, arguing millions of Americans could have cast their ballots early, before the second debate was scheduled to occur in early October.

Updated at 8:57 a.m. ET