President Joe Biden did not confirm or deny that he would debate former President Donald Trump later this year, stating that his decision would be based on Trump’s behavior. The president’s statement came after Trump challenged Biden to a debate about the state of the country.
When asked Friday about whether or not he would participate in a debate against Trump, Biden said it depended on the former president’s “behavior.”
Biden’s statement came as most national polls show him trailing Trump. Furthermore, most swing state polls show Biden behind the former president in the areas that will likely decide the Electoral College and the presidency.
NEW: President Biden says he might not debate former President Trump, says it would depend on his behaviors. I'm told if he believes he's winning, Biden will not debate Trump, just like Trump did not debate GOP opponents. WATCH pic.twitter.com/nB5GmH4Yd8
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) March 8, 2024
Earlier this week, the former president challenged Biden to a debate “anytime, anywhere, anyplace.”
“It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People,” the former president wrote on social media.
Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE! The Debates can be run by the Corrupt DNC, or their Subsidiary, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD),” Trump wrote.
“I look forward to receiving a response. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” said Trump.
Following Trump’s challenge, a Biden campaign official said that the former president was “thirsty for attention and struggling to expand his appeal beyond the MAGA base — and that’s a conversation we’ll have at the appropriate time in this cycle.”
Trump also wrote on social media that he would provide a “LIVE, Play by Play” of the president’s State of the Union address on Thursday.
The former president pledged to “correct, in rapid response, any and all inaccurate Statements, especially pertaining to the Border and his Weaponization of the DOJ, FBI, A.G.s and District Attorneys, to go after his Political Opponent, ME (something never done before in this Country!).”
Trump’s comments came after his campaign suggested that he may not take part in any debates this year due to a disagreement with the CPD.
The former and current president engaged in two debates in 2020. A potential debate was scrapped after a disagreement between the two candidates.
