 "Biden and Trump agree to two debates: Here’s why it will be different this year")
United States President Joe Biden and former US President Donald Trump have agreed to participate in two campaign debates. The first debate, hosted by CNN, is scheduled for 27 June, while the second, hosted by ABC, will take place on 10 September. This agreement sets the stage for their first presidential face-off in just over a month.
The swift decision on the debate schedule followed Biden’s announcement that he would not participate in the fall presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organised them for over three decades. Instead, Biden’s campaign proposed that media outlets directly organise the debates between the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees.
The debate is unusually early on the political calendar, occurring before either Biden or Trump has formally accepted his party’s nomination.
How these debates diverge from tradition
First of all, the announced debates are not being organised by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which has planned US presidential faceoffs in every election since 1988.
According to historical records maintained by the Commission on Presidential Debates, no general-election debate has ever been held earlier than 21 September, which is nearly three months later than the proposed 27 June date for the first debate this year. Similarly, no debate season has ever concluded before 13 October, which is about a month later than the proposed 10 September date for the second debate this year.
These deviations from the norm are just some of the ways in which the 2024 debates are likely to be exceptional. Biden has requested that news organisations host the debates instead of the commission, which has organised them since 1988.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAdditionally, there may be differences in format, Biden has asked for no live audience, a proposal that Trump supports in rejecting the commission’s involvement but opposes regarding the live audience, reported NYT.
The tradition of presidential debates itself is relatively modern in the scope of US history. The first televised general-election debates were held in 1960 but were not repeated for another 16 years. The current tradition of debates occurring every four years and a refusal to participate being seen as a breach of norms dates back less than 50 years, to 1976.
The 1960 debates are remembered for Richard M. Nixon’s unpreparedness for live television, which contrasted unfavourably with John F. Kennedy. After 1960, however, there was little eagerness to repeat Nixon’s experience. Consequently, there were no debates in 1964, 1968, or 1972.
What has the Commission on Presidential Debates said?
Just a day before the announcement of the CNN and ABC debates, Frank Fahrenkopf, the chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates, had expressed optimism that the candidates would eventually agree to participate in the commission’s debates.
“There’s no way you can force anyone to debate,” Fahrenkopf said during a virtual meeting of No Labels supporters. He noted that candidates have often considered skipping debates or exploring alternatives before ultimately participating, although one debate was canceled in 2020 when Trump refused to appear virtually after contracting COVID-19.
Despite this development, the commission indicated in a statement on Wednesday that it intends to proceed with its plans.
“The commission was established in 1987 specifically to ensure that such debates reliably take place and reach the widest television, radio, and streaming audience,” the statement said. “Our 2024 sites, all locations of higher learning, are prepared to host debates on dates chosen to accommodate early voters. We will continue to be ready to execute this plan.”
Fahrenkopf said on Tuesday that he had not spoken to representatives from either the Biden or Trump campaigns. However, the campaigns had been moving toward their own agreements. Fahrenkopf also defended the importance of television debates, noting that they provide insight into the candidates’ personalities and how they conduct themselves.
What have Biden and Trump said around the issue?
Both the Biden and Trump campaigns had criticised the commission’s plans, including the dates set for September and October, which come after voters in many states will have already begun casting mail-in ballots.
Both campaigns had voiced longstanding concerns about the commission’s operations. Trump blamed the commission for microphone issues during a debate in 2016, while Biden’s campaign criticised its plans as “out of step with changes in the structure of our elections and the interests of voters.”
The Republican National Committee voted in 2022 to no longer participate in forums sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, reported AP.
The Commission has already announced the dates and locations for the three general election debates between the US presidential candidates: 16 September in San Marcos, Texas; 1 October in Petersburg, Virginia; and 9 October in Salt Lake City. The lone US vice presidential debate is slated for 25 September in Easton, Pennsylvania.
A dozen news organisations wrote to the Biden and Trump campaigns in April, urging both candidates to participate in the debates.
“If there is one thing Americans can agree on during this polarised time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high,” the organisations said in a joint statement. “Amidst that backdrop, there is simply no substitute for the candidates debating with each other, and before the American people, their visions for the future of our nation.”
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, PBS, NBC, NPR and AP all signed on to the letter. C-SPAN, NewsNation and Univision also joined the letter calling for debates. Only one newspaper, USA Today, added its voice. The Washington Post declined a request to join.
By agreeing to their own debates, Biden and Trump bypassed a commission that is tasked with establishing neutral rules and providing a forum that is simultaneously broadcast on all major networks.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
