Trump campaign bid for more and earlier debates rebuffed by commission
The Commission on Presidential Debates has refused to acknowledge the Trump campaign’s requests for earlier and more frequent 2024 showdowns, sticking with its original schedule of three face-to-face meetings beginning in mid-September.
Two top advisers to the 45th president, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, sent a letter to the CPD on April 11 stating the 77-year-old Trump was ready to debate President Biden “anytime, anyplace, and anywhere,” and arguing that earlier debates would allow for more voters to view a head-to-head match-up before early voting begins.
On Friday, Biden confirmed during an interview with radio host Howard Stern that he would debate Trump after previously equivocating about the matter.
Early Tuesday afternoon, RNC spokesperson Danielle Alvarez told The Post that Wiles and LaCivita’s letter to the CPD had been greeted by “crickets” from debate organizers.
Later Tuesday, the commission told Fox News in a statement: “The CPD’s criteria […] will be applied in early September; afterward, the Commission will extend debate invitations to qualifying candidates.”
“The CPD is proceeding with production and broadcast plans at its four debate sites as also announced on November 20, 2023,” the CPD added.
In response, Wiles and LaCivita said in a statement: “The Presidential Debate Commission’s schedule does not begin until after millions of Americans will have already cast their ballots. This is unacceptable, and by refusing to move up the debates, they are doing a grave disservice to the American public who deserve to hear from both candidates before voting begins. President Trump has stated he will debate Joe Biden anytime, anywhere, anyplace, and Joe Biden himself just agreed to debate.
“We are committed to making this happen with or without the Presidential Debate Commission,” they added. “We extend an invitation to every television network in America that wishes to host a debate, and we once again call on Joe Biden’s team to work with us to set one up as soon as possible. The American people deserve it.”
The RNC’s relationship with the CPD has been anything but smooth, with the GOP withdrawing from the CPD in April 2022 on the grounds of bias in favor of Biden.
At the time, then-RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel vowed to “find newer, better debate platforms to ensure that future nominees are not forced to go through the biased CPD in order to make their case to the American people.”
However, new RNC Chairman Michael Whatley told Newsmax Tuesday morning the organization was “working” with the commission.
“We sill have criticisms of the commission, as outlined in the letter we sent them,” Alvarez said. “We believe the debates should begin before voting start. But most importantly, debates should just happen, period.”
The CPD has scheduled three presidential debates: Sept. 16 in San Marcos, Texas; Oct. 1 in Petersburg, Va.; and Oct. 9 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A vice presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 25 in Easton, Pa.
Neither the Biden campaign nor the Democratic National Committee have provided any further details about the president’s willingness to debate since his remark on Friday.
The Commission on Presidential Debates did not respond to multiple inquiries from The Post.
