President Biden mocked former President Trump for having ‘nothing else to do’
President Biden has addressed former President Trump’s call for an “immediate” debate on Monday.
Trump issued the challenge during a radio interview with conservative commentator Dan Bongino, suggesting that a debate would benefit the nation.
“I want to debate him now because it’s important to have a debate. It’s important for the benefit of the country,” Trump said.
Biden responded to Trump’s comments later that day while campaigning in Nevada. “Immediately? Well, if I were him, I’d want to debate me, too. He’s got nothing else to do,” Biden told reporters.
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With Trump maintaining a significant lead in the GOP primary, the future of general election debates appears uncertain. The Republican National Committee withdrew from the Commission on Presidential Debates in 2022, and Trump himself has labeled the organization as “corrupt.”
“They’re completely corrupt. They lean heavily Democrat, and that’s putting it mildly,” Trump stated in December, as reported by NBC News. “They are thoroughly corrupt, and they’re awful. That being said, I would participate in 20 debates even if they were organized by them. I’m willing to do as many debates as they want. I’d debate this guy every night. But he’ll never show up to a debate.”
Trump’s newfound willingness to debate comes after he outright rejected calls to debate his challengers in the GOP primary race.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, the only remaining challenger to Trump, took part in multiple debates with other candidates while Trump was absent.
Trump and his campaign argue that his substantial lead in GOP polls relieved him of any obligation to debate distant challengers.
The debate commission has currently scheduled three general election debates, although neither Trump nor Biden have publicly confirmed their participation. The debates are set for Sept. 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos, Oct. 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg, and Oct. 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, as reported by NBC.