Presidential debates used to be something we took for granted. Now, with the next presidential election coming up at the end of the year, major TV networks are preparing to beg the presumptive candidates to hit the debate stage.
The New York Times first reported that the networks were penning a letter to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Axios and CNN also confirmed a draft version from CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News.
There are already some presidential debates scheduled by the nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates organization at colleges across the nation: a Sept. 16 debate in San Marcos, Texas; an Oct. 1 debate in Petersburg, Va.; and a third on Oct. 9 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The United States’ general election debates, watched live worldwide, are a model for many other countries: the opportunity to hear and see leading candidates address serious issues in a fair and neutral setting. This tradition remains unbroken since 1976,” said Frank Fahrenkopf and Antonia Hernández, co-chairs of CPD. “In 2024, students at our four debate sites will help bring another set of historic conversations to audiences here and abroad.”
Fahrenkopf told CNN he has not yet seen the TV networks’ letter.
“Though it is too early for invitations to be extended to any candidates, it is not too early for candidates who expect to meet the eligibility criteria to publicly state their support for – and their intention to participate in – the Commission’s debates planned for this fall,” the letter states, per CNN.
Trump has made a point of eschewing debates during his latest campaign for the White House. In January, ABC and CNN said they would have to cancel debates because Trump and his then-challenger, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, wouldn’t attend.
While he refused to participate in GOP debates, the former president seems eager to debate Biden.
“It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People,” he said in a Truth Social post last month. “Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE! The Debates can be run by the Corrupt DNC, or their Subsidiary, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). I look forward to receiving a response. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
On the other hand, Biden hasn’t confirmed if he’s going to face off against Trump again on the debate stage. When asked about it in February, he quipped: “If I were him, I’d want to debate me too. He’s got nothing else to do.” When asked again last month, Biden said “it depends on his behavior.”
According to CNN, “historically debates were confined to good-spirited discussions on public policy issues,” but, “Trump over the last two presidential cycles has deformed the tradition with uncontrolled outbursts and an avalanche of lies.”
During the last presidential election cycle in 2020, Trump was president and Biden was challenging him. That election season happened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, before vaccines were available, and only two debates were held. This year, all of the CPD debates are scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET and run for 90 minutes without commercial interruption.
Although five major networks have already signed on to the letter calling for Trump and Biden to debate, CNN said the networks are asking even more news organizations to sign the letter, citing a person familiar with the matter. As of Tuesday, the outlet said the letter had not been finalized.
Representatives for the Biden and Trump campaigns did not immediately respond to a request for comment, said Axios.