U.S. news outlets call on Biden and Trump to agree to debates

A dozen leading U.S. news organizations have come together to urge both U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to commit to publicly debating each other in the run-up to the November election. In a joint statement released on Sunday, the news outlets emphasized the importance of debates in American democracy, citing their vital role in every presidential election over the past 50 years.

The statement called for the debates to be sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, as has been the tradition since 1988. While it is still early for formal invitations to be extended, the news organizations urged both 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 candidates to commit to debating each other.

While Trump has been challenging Biden to a one-on-one matchup, Biden has not yet committed to debating Trump, citing concerns about the former president’s behavior on stage. Despite Biden holding a lead in the polls, the decision to debate Trump remains uncertain.

The last time Biden and Trump faced each other in televised debates during the 2020 campaign, the nation watched as the two candidates clashed on various issues. As the election draws closer, the public eagerly awaits a potential rematch between the two political heavyweights.