Former President of the United States Donald Trump emphasized on Friday that he would like to debate current head of state Joe Biden, even though the debates will be conducted by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CDP), a nonpartisan organization.
Trump also stressed that he is available to debate a single Republican rival if a serious candidate emerges from the party’s New Hampshire primary, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
The Republican tycoon, who has failed in all primary debates so far and cited his leadership in voting intentions in the polls as justification, was asked whether he will debate Biden if nominated by his party.
“Ah, I’m looking forward to that. How about ten debates?” Trump responded on Friday during an interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt.
The former president expressed his availability, even though the debates were organized by the CDP, which Trump and other party partners have been against for years.
“They are completely corrupt and terrible. But having said that, I will hold twenty debates even if they are organized by them. I will participate in as many debates as they want. I will have a debate against him every evening. [Biden]”Trump emphasized.
The Republican National Committee voted unanimously in April 2022 to withdraw from the events of this organization, on the grounds of a biased attitude, and demanded that the candidates sign an agreement committing themselves to participate only in events authorized by the committee approved debates. However, Trump never signed that pledge.
The nonprofit was founded in 1987 and has hosted every presidential and vice-presidential election debate since then. The organization describes the rules for each debate and selects the locations, dates and moderators for the events.
As for the internal race, Trump also indicated during the interview that he would be available for a debate on the Republican primaries after the New Hampshire vote.
Public polls show Trump with a lead, but also that former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is gaining ground, especially in New Hampshire.
Trump also emphasized that he is “not concerned” about Haley, who also served as ambassador to the United Nations during the tycoon’s administration.
The Biden campaign has not yet committed to the debates for the 2024 elections. Quentin Fulks, Biden’s deputy campaign manager, emphasized to journalists early this month that the campaign will examine the schedule released by the Commission on Presidential Debates in November .
This committee has developed a schedule of three presidential debates to be held between September 16 and October 9, 2024 in college towns in Texas, Virginia and Utah, as well as a vice-presidential debate in Pennsylvania.
As president, Trump repeatedly accused the committee of unfair treatment and subsequently refused to participate in the second debate of 2020, following a decision to hold the event virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Democrats also expressed frustration with the committee in 2020, accusing it of not following the rules when it came to Trump.
Source: DN
