Trump issues ‘no holds barred’ debate challenge to Biden
High on ratings from their first matchup, the former president wants a follow up that will ‘blow everything away’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has challenged Joe Biden to a “no holds barred” debate while the White House and the Democratic officials scramble to respond to the president’s flailing performance at their first 2024 matchup last week.
“I have the answer to the Crooked Joe Biden Incompetence Puzzle — Let’s do another Debate, but this time, no holds barred,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social during the Fourth of July holiday.
“An all on discussion, with just the two of us on stage, talking about the future of our Country,” he added. “The ratings were massive for the First Debate, record setting, in fact, but this one, because of the format, would blow everything away!”
The two men have already agreed to at least one more debate before Election Day. The next debate is set to be hosted by ABC and will air on Tuesday, September 10.
CBS has also invited both campaigns to participate in a vice presidential debate on either July 23 or August 13. Biden’s campaign has accepted, but Trump has not yet announced a running mate.
Biden’s performance at their June 27 matchup has fuelled concerns about his age, fitness and whether he should end his re-election campaign altogether.
Editorial boards for several major American newspapers have called on him to drop out, and so have several sitting Democratic members of Congress and prominent allies. Others have urged his campaign and the Democratic Party to seriously confront the nosediving poll numbers and growing concerns about the president’s age and future.
Biden, however, has repeatedly insisted that he isn’t going anywhere, and his campaign and the White House have shot down any suggestions that he is in talks about his political viability as “false.”
“I’m the Democratic Party’s nominee,” he said in a fundraising email this week. “No one is pushing me out. I’m not leaving, I’m in this race to the end, and WE are going to win this election.”
Trump said their “no holds barred” debate would “be yet another test for me.”
“What a great evening it would be, just the two of us, one on one, in a good, old fashioned Debate, the way they used to be. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!!!” he added.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments