Biden says he is happy to debate Trump ahead of elections in November

The United States President and Presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden, on Friday (Apr 26) said that he would participate in a debate with his predecessor and Republican opponent in the upcoming election Donald Trump

Im happy to debate him

This is the first time that Biden signalled that he is willing to debate Trump ahead of the upcoming elections as well as the clearest yet on the prospect of a presidential debate.

I am, somewhere. I don't know when," said the incumbent president during an hour-long interview with broadcaster Howard Stern. Biden added, "I'm happy to debate him."

This comes as Biden has not previously committed to debate Trump. Last month, the incumbent US president said that his commitment to a debate with his predecessor "depends on his behavior".

Similarly, when asked about the debate during a trip to Nevada in February, Biden said "If I were him, I'd want him to debate me, too. He's got nothing else to do."

ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE

In response to Biden's interview, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social and wrote, "Crooked Joe Biden just announced that he's willing to debate! Everyone knows he doesn't really mean it, but in case he does, I say ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE…"

It is worth noting that the former president has refused to debate his rivals before winning the Republican primary race last month. However, given his latest post it seems like he is eager for a one-on-one match with his successor.

Biden and Trump had last faced each other in two televised presidential election debates in 2020.

Earlier this month, a dozen leading American news organisations urged candidates to publicly commit to debating each other. The statement suggests that debates for the current race be sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.

However, Trump and the GOP have had a turbulent relationship with the nonpartisan group that has organised general election debates since 1988.

In 2022, the Republican National Committee (RNC) unanimously voted to ban future GOP presidential nominees from participating in debates organised by the committee, while then-RNC chair Ronna McDaniel called the Commission "biased".

Meanwhile, the Biden campaign is reportedly concerned that once on stage Trump will not abide by rules set by the Commission, while some of the incumbent president's advisers said they prefer not to elevate Trump by putting him on the same stage as Biden.