Only Four Media Outlets Meet Biden’s Criteria for Hosting Presidential Debates With Trump

Isaac SchorrMay 15th, 2024, 10:07 am
 

(Sipa via AP Images)

President Joe Biden challenged presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to agree to two debates to be held under very specific conditions on Wednesday, even going so far as to narrow the outlets he would be comfortable with hosting the forums down to just four.

“Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020 and since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal,”  began Biden in a short campaign video. “I’ll even do it twice. So let’s pick the dates, Donald. I hear you’re free on Wednesdays.”

In a letter addressed to the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has traditionally planned and hosted such events, Biden Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon informed the Commission that Biden would be eschewing its debates for ones hosted by specific news organizations.

“It should be hosted by any broadcast organization that hosted a Republican Primary debate in 2016 in which Donald Trump participated, and a Democratic primary debate in 2020 in which President Biden participated – so neither campaign can assert that the sponsoring organization is obviously unacceptable,” wrote O’Malley Dillon. “If both candidates have previously debated on their airwaves, then neither could object to such a venue.”

The only outlets to meet that criteria are ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and Telemundo.

“The moderator(s) should be selected by the broadcast host from among their regular personnel, so as to avoid a ‘ringer’ or partisan,” added O’Malley Dillon.

She also argued in the letter that “a candidate’s microphone should only be active when it is his turn to speak, to promote adherence to the rules and orderly proceedings,” as well as that the first debate should be held as soon as next month.

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