Atlanta, Georgia – As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, twelve major news organizations are urging both Democratic candidate Joe Biden and Republican candidate Donald Trump to participate in televised debates. These debates are seen as a crucial aspect of the election process, providing voters with the opportunity to see the candidates’ visions for the country’s future.
The news organizations, including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, PBS, NBC, NPR, and the Associated Press, emphasized the significance of the upcoming election and the importance of the candidates engaging in debates. They called for transparency and public commitment from both campaigns to participate in the scheduled presidential and vice-presidential debates organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
While the news outlets urged for early confirmation of debate participation, both Biden and Trump have been hesitant to engage with rival candidates. Trump has declined to debate against former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and others, while Biden has avoided sharing a TV stage with former Democratic opponents who have since withdrawn from the race.
In the previous 2020 election, Biden and Trump participated in two debates before the third was canceled due to Trump testing positive for Covid-19. Now, as the calls for earlier and more frequent debates continue, the Trump campaign is pushing for a faster debate schedule so that voters can make informed decisions before casting their ballots.
Trump has expressed his readiness to debate Biden at any time, while Biden has remained noncommittal, citing concerns about Trump’s behavior. The debate schedule, set for September 16 and October 9, has been a point of contention between the two campaigns, highlighting the importance of these televised events in shaping public opinion and influencing voter decisions.