A dozen leading U.S. news organizations are calling on President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to publicly commit to debating each other in the run-up to the November election. In a joint statement, the news outlets emphasized the importance of debates in American democracy, citing their role in every presidential election over the past 50 years.
The statement proposed that the debates be sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, as they have been since 1988. While invitations have not yet been extended to candidates, the news organizations are urging potential candidates to publicly express their support for and intention to participate in the commission’s debates planned for this fall.
Among the signatories of the statement were major network television outlets such as ABC News, CBS News, NBCUniversal News Group, Fox, CNN, and others. The Associated Press, National Public Radio, and USA Today also joined in calling for the presidential candidates to engage in debates.
Trump, who has previously refused to debate his rivals, has been challenging Biden to a one-on-one matchup, while Biden has not yet committed to debating Trump. Biden’s camp has expressed concerns about Trump not following debate rules and potentially using the platform to elevate himself.
As the election approaches, the call for debates between Biden and Trump is gaining momentum. With Biden currently leading in the polls, the prospect of a face-off between the two candidates is generating significant interest and anticipation among voters.