Current:Home > InvestMajor news organizations urge Biden, Trump to commit to presidential debates -NextFrontier Finance
Major news organizations urge Biden, Trump to commit to presidential debates
View
Date:2025-04-17 10:49:26
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.
In the letter, the news organizations said it was too early for invitations to go out to candidates for debates, but that it wasn't too early for presidential candidates who expect to meet eligibility criteria to publicly state their commitment to debates in the fall.
"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. "Amidst that backdrop, there is simply no substitute for the candidates debating with each other, and before the American people, their visions for the future of our nation."
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. They did not address the 2022 GOP vote, but they did call on the commission to be fair and impartial.
"Fairness in such a setting is paramount and the Commission must ensure that the 2024 Commission-sponsored debates are truly fair and conducted impartially," they wrote. "The Commission must move up the timetable of its proposed 2024 debates to ensure more Americans have a full chance to see the candidates before they start voting, and we would argue for adding more debates in addition to those on the currently proposed schedule."
Trump, who avoided debating his GOP rivals in primary debates, previously faced some criticism for failing to show up to those debates and face questions on stage alongside other Republican candidates. But in a December interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump suggested he'd be up for 10 debates with Mr. Biden. He also discussed debating with President Biden in a Thursday post to Truth Social.
"Biden can't speak," Trump said. "Biden can't debate, Biden can't put two sentences together."
At a Saturday rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, Trump had two podiums set up on stage. He spoke to the crowd from one podium and left the other empty except for a placard reading, "Anytime. Anywhere. Anyplace." He pointed to the lectern partway through his campaign speech.
"See the podium? I'm calling on Crooked Joe Biden to debate anytime, anywhere, any place. Right there," Trump said. "And we have to debate because our country is going in the wrong direction so badly and while it's a little bit typically early we have to debate."
President Biden, when asked on March 8 if he would commit to a debate with Trump, said that "it depends on his behavior." The president previously addressed a potential debate in early February while visiting Las Vegas. After being told that Trump wanted to debate him as soon as possible, Mr. Biden said, "If I were him, I'd want to debate me too. He's got nothing else to do."
- In:
- Joe Biden
- Donald Trump
Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.
TwitterveryGood! (4442)
Related
- Matt Damon remembers pal Robin Williams: 'He was a very deep, deep river'
- NASA plans for launch of Europa Clipper: What to know about craft's search for life
- Eric Roberts makes 'public apology' to sister Julia Roberts in new memoir: Report
- Bodies of 3 people found dead after structure fire in unincorporated community
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Washington gubernatorial debate pits attorney general vs. ex-sheriff who helped nab serial killer
- Harvey Weinstein set to be arraigned on additional sex crimes charges in New York
- Mississippi high court rejects the latest appeal by a man on death row since 1994
- British swimmer Adam Peaty: There are worms in the food at Paris Olympic Village
- How Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Dealt With Guilt of Moving On After Husband's Death
Ranking
- Audit: California risked millions in homelessness funds due to poor anti-fraud protections
- Police seek a pair who took an NYC subway train on a joyride and crashed it
- Dancing With the Stars' Gleb Savchenko Shares Message to Artem Chigvintsev Amid Divorce
- Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ indictment alleges he used power to build empire of sexual crime
- Louisiana high court temporarily removes Judge Eboni Johnson Rose from Baton Rouge bench amid probe
- The Secret Service again faces scrutiny after another gunman targets Trump
- Harvey Weinstein set to be arraigned on additional sex crimes charges in New York
- Woman accused of driving an SUV into a crowd in Minneapolis and killing a teenager
Recommendation
Small twin
Prefer to deposit checks in person? Bank branches may soon be hard to come by, report says
Despite confusion, mail voting has not yet started in Pennsylvania
Harassment case dismissed against Alabama transportation director
Eva Mendes Shares Message of Gratitude to Olympics for Keeping Her and Ryan Gosling's Kids Private
FBI investigates suspicious packages sent to election officials in multiple states
Ellen DeGeneres Addresses Workplace Scandal in Teaser for Final Comedy Special
Good American Blowout Deals: Khloe Kardashian-Approved Styles Up to 78% Off With $22 Dresses