CBS News and 11 other major news organizations on Sunday issued a joint statement urging President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to commit to debates during the 2024 campaign season.
“If there is one thing Americans can agree on during this polarized time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high,” the organizations said in the joint statement.
ABC News, The Associated Press, CNN, C-SPAN, FOX News Media, NBCUniversal News Group, NewsNation, Noticias Univision (Univision Network News), NPR, PBS NewsHour and USA TODAY joined CBS News in signing the joint statement.
The Republican National Committee voted unanimously in 2022 to ban future GOP presidential nominees from participating in debates put on by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, the body that has sponsored general election debates since 1988.
Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita addressed the Commission on Presidential Debates in a letter on Thursday, saying that Trump was willing to debate.
But in a December interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump suggested he’d be up for 10 debates with Mr. Biden.
“Biden can’t debate, Biden can’t put two sentences together.”
I’m calling on Crooked Joe Biden to debate anytime, anywhere, any place.
Calling on President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to commit to debates during the 2024 campaign season, CBS News and eleven other prominent news organizations released a joint statement on Sunday.
Although it was too early to send out debate invitations to candidates, the news organizations said in the letter that it wasn’t too early for presidential candidates who anticipate meeting the eligibility requirements to publicly declare their intention to participate in debates in the fall.
The groups said in a joint statement, “If there is one thing Americans can agree on during this divisive time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high.”. “With that background, there is just no replacement for the candidates presenting their visions for the future of our country to the American people and each other. “.”.
The joint statement from CBS News was signed by ABC News, The Associated Press, CNN, C-SPAN, FOX News Media, NBCUniversal News Group, NewsNation, Noticias Univision (Univision Network News), NPR, PBS NewsHour, and USA TODAY.
In 2022, the Republican National Committee unanimously decided to forbid any future Republican presidential nominees from taking part in the debates hosted by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which has been sponsoring debates for general elections since 1988.
Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, the campaign managers for Trump, wrote to the Commission on Presidential Debates on Thursday expressing Trump’s willingness to engage in debate. While they did not address the GOP vote in 2022, they did urge the commission to act impartially and fairly.
In their letter, they stated that “fairness in such a setting is paramount and the Commission must ensure that the 2024 Commission-sponsored debates are truly fair and conducted impartially.”. “To ensure that more Americans have a chance to see the candidates in person before casting their ballots, the Commission needs to expedite the schedule of its proposed 2024 debates. Additionally, we would argue for the addition of additional debates beyond those on the currently proposed schedule.”. ****.
Previous to those debates, Trump was criticized for not attending and answering questions on stage with other Republican contenders. He also refrained from sparring with his rivals in the GOP. However, Trump stated he would be open to having ten debates with Mr. Biden in a December interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. In a post published on Truth Social on Thursday, he also talked about debating President Biden.
Trump declared that Biden was mute. “Biden lacks the ability to debate and form coherent sentences. “.
Trump set up two podiums on stage at a rally on Saturday in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. He used one podium to address the assembly while leaving the other empty save for a sign that said, “Anytime. Everywhere is acceptable. Anywhere will do. During his campaign speech, he made a gesture toward the lectern.
“I’m inviting Crooked Joe Biden to debate at any time, any place—see the podium? That’s right,” remarked Trump. Even though it’s a little early, we must debate because our nation is headed in the wrong direction so badly. “.”.
