Biden Tells Howard Stern He’s ‘Happy’ to Debate Trump

Nikki McCann Ramirez
·3 min read
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After weeks of hesitation, President Joe Biden said on Friday that he would be “happy” to debate his de facto 2024 rival Donald Trump ahead of the November election.

During an interview with longtime radio giant Howard Stern, Biden was asked if he planned to once again debate Trump in their rematch.

“I am, somewhere, I don’t know when but I am happy to debate him,” Biden responded.

Immediately after the interview aired, Trump adviser Chris LaCivita responded on X, formerly Twitter. “Ok let’s set it up!” he wrote.

Trump himself wrote a lengthy statement on Truth Social in response to the interview. Crooked Joe Biden just announced that he’s willing to debate! Everyone knows he doesn’t really mean it, but in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an old expression used by Fighters,” he wrote. The former president suggested “Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, or Wednesday Evening at my Rally in Michigan,” as potential dates — and even offered to hold a televised debate on Friday night from the Manhattan Courthouse where he is currently standing trial for allegedly falsifying business records in a 2016 hush money scheme.

“I, stuck in one of the many Court cases that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT – A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT! It’s the only way he thinks he can win. In fact, let’s do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight – on National Television, I’ll wait around!” Trump wrote.

Last month, after a blowout win on Super Tuesday, Trump challenged Biden to a one-on-one debate. Neither man is officially the nominee for their respective parties, but are both expected to be confirmed at the Republican and Democratic conventions this summer.

“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. Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!” Trump wrote in March on Truth Social.

Biden and his administration were hesitant to outright commit to a showdown. Days after the challenge from Trump, the president said that his willingness to debate his predecessor “depends on his behavior.”

Earlier this month, major news organizations issued an open letter calling for a public debate between the presumptive nominees.

“With the contours of the 2024 general election now coming into clear focus, 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 read the letter, which was signed by major networks including  ABC News, CBS News, CNN, NBC Universal News Group and Fox News Media.

While Trump was the first to level a debate challenge against Biden, during the Republican primaries he refused to participate in the debates hosted by the Republican National Committee, instead holding competing rallies and airing an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson at the same time his rivals took the stage.

But while he couldn’t be bothered to spar with his rivals within his own party, it seems Trump may finally get the televised rematch he’s been itching for.

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