Biden says he is 'happy' to debate Trump; Ex-President claims he can spar 'anytime, anywhere'

As the race to the White House intensify, US President Joe Biden said that he is “happy” to debate former President and Republican de-facto presidential nominee Donald Trump, but he does not know when and where it would happen.

The proclamation from the POTUS came after he sprang a surprise and gave an interview to celebrity radio show host Howard Stern.

“I am, somewhere, I don’t know when, but I am happy to debate him," Biden told Stern swirling major headlines. Shortly after the interview, the Biden campaign confirmed that the POTUS is willing to face Trump in person.

The interview with Stern on Friday became the latest example of the White House favouring media personalities and non-tradition outlets ahead of the highly intense US Presidential elections.

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Trump reacts

In his usual social media rant on TruthSocial, Trump mocked Biden’s assertions. “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,” the business-mogul-turned politician wrote on his social media platform.

“I suggest Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, or Wednesday Evening at my Rally in Michigan, a State that he is in the process of destroying with his E.V. Mandate,” he added.

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Trump also took jabs at Biden by stating that he would be busy with the plethora of court cases hurled against him.

“In the alternative, he’s in New York City today, although probably doesn’t know it, and so am 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!” he averred.

While Trump did not participate in any of the Republican presidential primary debates, his campaign has repeatedly called on Biden to debate. Trump’s team have even suggested adding more debates to the general election schedule.

The time Biden had suicidal thoughts

Much of the interview focused on Biden’s long life in politics, as a senator from Delaware from 1973 to 2009, as vice-president to Barack Obama between 2009 and 2017, and as president since 2021.

During the conversation, he also discussed the deaths of his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and young daughter, Naomi, in a car crash in 1972.

He even revealed that he had suicidal thoughts following the tragedy. “I used to sit there and just think I’m going to take out a bottle of scotch,” Biden said. “I’m going to just drink it and get drunk."

“I just thought about it, you don’t need to be crazy to commit suicide. I thought, ‘Let me just go to the Delaware Memorial [Bridge] and jump,’" he added.