What happened
President Joe Biden and Donald Trump agreed Wednesday to meet for two televised presidential debates before the November election, ending months of speculation. CNN will host the first debate on June 27. ABC will host the second one Sept. 10. Neither will have a live audience.
Who said what
"Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020," and "now he is acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal," Biden said in a video. "I hear you're free on Wednesdays." Trump replied he is "ready and willing" to debate, calling Biden "the WORST debater I have ever faced" who now can't even "put two sentences together."
Biden's June debate proposal, "swiftly accepted" after weeks of "back-channel talks," was "meant to jolt Americans to attention sooner than later about their consequential choice in 2024," The New York Times said. It amounted to a "public acknowledgment" by Biden "that he is trailing in his re-election bid." Trump "has a lot at stake here too," because a good Biden performance could allay age concerns and "change the dynamic of the race," Democratic strategist David Axelrod told The Washington Post. But early debates might help either candidate, "because if they don't go well, you can recover from them."
What next?
Biden and Trump's public agreement "does not ensure that either of the debates will happen," Politico said. Biden quickly shot down Trump's proposal for more debates.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Court allows National Guard in LA as Dodgers repel fedsSpeed Read The team said they 'denied entry' to ICE agents seeking to enter their stadium
-
ICE arrests NYC comptroller at courthouseSpeed Read Brad Lander was held for about four hours before being released
-
Trump ramps up Iran threats, demands 'surrender'Speed Read Trump met with his top aides in the Situation Room on Tuesday
-
ABA sues Trump over 'law firm intimidation policy'Speed Read Trump has 'used the vast powers of the executive branch to coerce lawyers,' the lawsuit said
-
Judge orders Trump's NIH grant cuts reversedSpeed Read Trump had attempted to slash more than $1 billion in research grants
-
Trump leaves G7 early, warns Tehran to evacuateSpeed Read Trump claimed to have left the summit due to ongoing issues in the Middle East
-
Trump tells ICE to hit blue cities, spare farms, hotelsSpeed Read Trump has targeted New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles among other cities
-
Police capture suspect in Minnesota lawmaker killingSpeed Read The suspect is accused of killing the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband
