The Commission on Presidential Debates has confirmed that it will stick to its original schedule despite requests from former President Trump’s campaign for earlier events. The commission released its schedule in November, but Trump’s camp has urged organizers to offer earlier and more frequent debates to outshine President Biden onstage. The CPD stated that their criteria would be applied in early September, and debate invitations would be extended to qualifying candidates. Trump’s campaign managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles argued that the move by the commission was unacceptable, extending an invitation to all television networks in America to host a debate and urging the Biden campaign to set up a debate as soon as possible.
Trump has been calling on Biden to join him on the debate stage for months, with Biden confirming his intentions to debate his Republican challenger in an interview with radio personality Howard Stern. Trump expressed eagerness to debate under any conditions and at any time, affirming that he is ready to debate Biden anywhere. The Trump campaign had previously written a letter to the commission requesting that the debate schedule be moved up on the calendar and expanded to ensure more Americans have the opportunity to see the candidates before voting begins. Despite Biden characterizing Trump’s emphasis on the question as desperate, the commission has decided to stick to the original schedule.
The first presidential debate is scheduled for September 16 at Texas State University, with additional debates in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Utah in October. The Trump campaign criticized the commission’s decision not to move up the debates, stating that they are doing a disservice to the American public who deserve to hear from both candidates prior to voting. The Trump campaign reiterated Trump’s willingness to debate Biden anytime, anywhere, and anyplace and extended an invitation to television networks across America to host a debate. Despite the commission’s decision to remain firm on the debate schedule, the Trump campaign is committed to making a debate happen with or without the commission’s involvement and called on the Biden team to cooperate in setting up a debate as soon as possible.
For over three decades, the Commission on Presidential Debates has organized and produced presidential and vice presidential general election debates. However, the Republican National Committee voted unanimously two years ago to stop working with the commission, alleging bias against GOP candidates. Trump’s campaign has been pushing for earlier and more frequent debates with Biden, while the Biden camp remained coy about the president’s willingness to debate, with Biden indicating that he was ready to debate his Republican challenger. Despite the back and forth between the two campaigns, the commission has confirmed that it will proceed with its original schedule, with the first debate set to take place in September at Texas State University.
