President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to participate in a series of debates leading up to the November election, with both sides claiming victory in the negotiations.
Trump had been pushing for debates with Biden throughout the year, even before securing the GOP nomination. Biden’s campaign initially indicated there would be debates, but did not provide detailed demands until a video released on Wednesday. By noon that same day, both candidates had agreed to debates on CNN in June and ABC in September, meeting the criteria Biden had outlined.
In response to Biden’s terms, Trump criticized the president’s debating skills, calling him the “WORST debater” he had ever faced and eagerly accepting the challenge. Despite speculation that Biden might not agree to debate, a Trump official reportedly told Politico that the president’s willingness to engage in debates was a victory in itself.
The Biden campaign, on the other hand, highlighted that they had set the ground rules for the debates and saw their demands met. Not only did Biden’s team secure two one-on-one debates with Trump, but they also chose venues such as CNN and ABC that were perceived as favorable. There is still debate over the number of debates to be held, but Biden’s camp is poised to claim victory if the final count remains at two.
As the debate date approaches, both campaigns are claiming early victories, but there are also risks involved for both candidates. Trump’s past debate performance and concerns over Biden’s memory issues could present challenges during the discussions. The first debate is set for June 27 on CNN, followed by a second debate on Sept. 10 on ABC.
