President Biden recently said he wants to debate Donald Trump. But some people are wondering if he will do it.
Here are the key points:
- Biden told Howard Stern he is “happy to debate” Trump
- Trump responded by saying he’ll “wait around at the courthouse” for the debate
- Polls show Trump’s legal troubles are a big reason people may not vote for him
- Biden’s age and performance as president are top concerns for voters
- Some experts doubt Biden’s team will let him debate
Will the two former presidents end up debating on the national stage? Or was Biden speaking off-the-cuff? Let’s take a closer look.
Biden Says He Wants to Debate Trump
During a recent interview on The Howard Stern Show, President Biden was asked if he plans to debate his likely opponent, Donald Trump. Biden responded:
“I will [debate him] somewhere, I don’t know [where]…But I’m happy to debate him.”
This was an off-the-cuff statement, as Biden didn’t provide additional details about potential debate plans.
Trump Responds With Jab About Biden’s Legal Troubles
Trump quickly responded to Biden’s debate remarks on his Truth Social platform, writing:
“Do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight on National Television – I’ll wait around…”
This was an apparent jab at the legal troubles Trump currently faces, including his recent arraignment on charges related to hush money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Voters Share Top Reasons to Back or Oppose Each Candidate
A recent NBC News poll asked voters to share the “most convincing reasons” they would or would not vote for Biden and Trump in 2024.
For Trump, the top three issues that could cause voters not to support him were:
- His legal troubles (33%)
- Taking credit for overturning Roe v. Wade (24%)
- Possibly pardoning Capitol rioters (19%)
As for Biden, his top issues of concern were:
- His age and mental/physical fitness (23%)
- Illegal immigration policies (17%)
- High inflation (16%)
Overall, 44% of voters said none of these issues were convincing enough reasons to vote against Trump, compared to 32% who felt that way about Biden.
Doubts Arise Over Whether Debates Will Happen
While Biden said he plans to debate Trump, some experts are skeptical it will occur. Fox News contributor and former Congressman Jason Chaffetz stated:
“I’ll be shocked if Joe Biden actually debated. I don’t think anybody on his team can afford to allow him to answer spontaneous questions.”
Chaffetz argued that Biden has avoided the most challenging questions and interviews during his presidency. He claimed Biden’s team controls his public appearances to prevent gaffes or mental lapses.
Biden Has Debated Trump Successfully Before
However, it’s worth noting that Biden and Trump did participate in two debates during the 2020 election cycle. Most analysts felt Biden performed well, especially in the final debate in Nashville.
Carl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, said these 2024 debates could be “the most important presidential debates” since 1980 when Ronald Reagan notably turned things around against Jimmy Carter.
Debate Negotiations to Come
If the debates do happen in 2024, the two campaigns will need to negotiate their formats, moderators, and other terms in advance.
Traditionally, the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates handles this process. In this election cycle, they have already identified the first 2024 debate location as the University of Texas.
The New York Times editorial board has criticized Biden’s team for avoiding independent press questions throughout his presidency. This could foreshadow a tense debate negotiation period ahead.
Ultimately, high-stakes 2024 debates between Biden and Trump seem plausible based on Biden’s stated willingness. However, nothing is guaranteed, given the concerns over Biden’s age and stamina.
Only time will tell if the two erstwhile rivals share the debate stage one last time. And you can be sure plenty of Americans will be watching closely if they do.
