President Biden stated on Friday that he would take part in a general-election debate with former President Donald J. Trump, a putting shift after months during which he and his marketing campaign declined to decide to showing onstage along with his Republican rival.
Mr. Biden’s announcement, made in response to a query from the radio host Howard Stern, comes after strain from tv networks and Mr. Trump’s marketing campaign for the president to comply with take part in debates.
When Mr. Stern requested Mr. Biden if he would debate Mr. Trump, the president replied: “I’m, someplace, I don’t know when, however I’m glad to debate him.”
Mr. Biden’s announcement gave the impression to be off the cuff, relatively than a deliberate shift in technique for his marketing campaign, in response to a high Democratic official aware of its considering.
This month, the 5 main TV information networks and The Related Press wrote an uncommon letter to the Biden and Trump campaigns urging them to debate. A few of Mr. Biden’s high aides and closest advisers have been longtime critics of the presidential debate system, which is organized by the nonpartisan Fee on Presidential Debates.
In November, the debates fee introduced that three presidential debates would happen in San Marcos, Texas; Petersburg, Va.; and Salt Lake Metropolis. A vice-presidential debate is to be held in Easton, Pa.
This month, the Trump marketing campaign despatched a letter asking the debates fee to maneuver its three deliberate debates earlier within the fall and so as to add extra to the schedule.
During the last month, Mr. Trump has made goading Mr. Biden about debates a characteristic of his marketing campaign rallies. Earlier than the previous president takes the stage, screens present a picture of his Fact Social submit claiming his willingness to debate Mr. Biden “anytime, anyplace, anyplace.”
A workers member then brings an empty lectern on the stage, with an indication bearing these three phrases. The lectern stays in place whereas Mr. Trump offers his marketing campaign speech.
“See the rostrum?” Mr. Trump stated at a rally this month in Schnecksville, Pa. “I’m calling on crooked Joe Biden to debate anytime, anyplace, anywhere.”
Mr. Trump didn’t take part in any of the Republican main debates.
The Biden marketing campaign has parried questions on whether or not he’ll comply with debate Mr. Trump this fall. On Friday, the marketing campaign directed questions on whether or not its stance on debates had modified to Mr. Biden’s feedback on the Stern program.
Chris LaCivita, a high marketing campaign adviser to Mr. Trump, replied to the Biden debate information by writing on social media: “Okay let’s set it up !”
Michael Gold contributed reporting.