Biden proposes two changes to presidential debates that would neutralize Trump

Biden and Trump have agreed to two presidential debates, but the president has proposed two changes that would sweep away Trump’s chaos.

Read about the biggest developments Testimony from Michael Cohen.

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In a letter, the Biden campaign announced that they would not participate in the Commission on Presidential Debates schedule, a move that had to happen because Trump was already refusing to participate.

Read the letter:

Biden campaign: ‘The purpose of this letter is to announce that the President will not participate in the Commission’s announced debates on presidential debates in 2024.’ They use a different schedule: one debate at the end of June, one in September; VP debate at the end of July. pic.twitter.com/A6fIazJSjG

– Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) May 15, 2024

Biden and Trump have both agreed to a CNN debate on June 27 before either candidate is the official nominee.

Biden wants two presidential debates, one in June and one in September, but Trump wants a debate every month, which makes no sense because Trump is a terrible debater.

Here is the Trump letter with their proposed schedule:

MEMORANDUM: Presidential Debates 2024: Let’s do more pic.twitter.com/2NHs1b3OSo

– Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 15, 2024

Typically, candidates who lose want more debates, so it’s telling that Trump wants monthly debates.

What changes has Biden proposed in the debates?

Biden proposed two changes to the debates that experts have been calling for for years. The first change is that there will be no studio audience. Television networks, together with the Commission for Presidential Debates, have converted the debates into accessible information for television spectacles. Presidential debates have less and less information value and have become an empty primetime reality show on TV. Getting rid of the audience and surrounding nonsense will force the candidates to focus on the issues.

The second proposed change is major. There would be a strict shutdown of candidate microphones for exceeding the time limit or interruption. Trump’s main debate strategy is to while away the time, shout and interrupt, so enforcing strict rules would go a long way to focusing voters’ attention on what is being said rather than performative theater .

How did Biden and Trump react to the debate announcement?

Biden released a video announcing his acceptance of the debates:

Biden said: “Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, he has since shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, friend. I even did it twice. So let’s pick the dates, Donald. I hear you’re free on Wednesday.’

Trump posted on Truth Social:

Crooked Joe Biden is the WORST debater I have ever experienced – he can’t put two sentences together! Crooked is also by far the WORST president in the history of the United States. It’s time for a debate so he can explain to the American people his highly destructive open borders policies, his new and ridiculous EV mandates, allowing crushing inflation, high taxes and his truly WEAK foreign policy that the world stands for ablaze. I am ready and willing to debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September. I would highly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds – that’s only because he’s not getting any. Just tell me when, I’ll be there. “Let’s get ready for Rumble!!!”

Trump later posted that he accepted the CNN debate, which CNN has officially announced will take place, and an ABC News debate in September, which will also likely take place.

Impact of possible changes in the debate

One of the main changes in the new debate system is that the networks will make offers to host debates that the candidates can accept or reject. The presidential cycle will look much more like the way each party’s key debates are determined.

If Biden gets the debate changes he wants, the debates will be more serious and substantive, allowing them to better inform voters than previous presidential debates.

The Biden campaign has pointed out that because so many people are voting early and by mail, it is important to wrap up the debates before people start casting their ballots.

I think the June debate is a stupid idea. Candidates may not debate each other before officially accepting their nomination. The debate will last for months before people vote and will certainly be forgotten before the vote takes place.

There’s no way Biden will agree to monthly debates, but for now at least there will be debates unless Donald Trump gets angry and decides not to show up.

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