NewsNation joins networks in calling for Biden, Trump to debate
- Biden’s campaign has repeatedly declined to commit to debates
- Trump, who passed on primary debates, said he’s eager to debate Biden
- The Commission on Presidential Debates has sponsored every debate since ‘87
FILE – In this combination of photos, President Joe Biden, left, speaks on Aug. 10, 2023, in Salt Lake City, and former President Donald Trump speaks on June 13, 2023, in Bedminster, N.J. The sequel to the 2020 election is officially set as the president and his immediate predecessor secured their parties’ nominations. Biden and Trump have set up a political movie the country has seen before — even if the last version was in black and white. (AP Photo, File)
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(NewsNation) — NewsNation has joined other broadcast and cable news networks in calling for televised debates between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
The letter, first reported by The New York Times, has been endorsed by NewsNation, ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News.
“We, the undersigned national news organizations, urge the presumptive presidential nominees to publicly commit to participating in general election debates before November’s election,” the letter reads, according to a draft version obtained by The New York Times.
Biden’s reelection campaign has repeatedly declined to commit to joining debates with Trump, his likely opponent in the November general election. Trump, meanwhile, has said he’s eager to debate Biden, even if the debates are sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
Three debates for next year’s presidential general election are set to be held in college towns in Texas, Virginia and Utah between Sept. 16 and Oct. 9.
The nonprofit CPD was established in 1987 and has sponsored every general election presidential and vice presidential debates since. It does not receive federal funding or financial support from any political party or campaign.
National Democrats have expressed frustration with the commission in 2020 over what they called its failure to enforce the rules when it came to Trump, as he and Biden were then competing for the presidency.
