The first general election debate is still scheduled to take place on September 16th.
The Commission on Presidential Debates has pushed back against the Trump campaign's proposal to move the general debate date forward, and is standing by its decision to hold the first broadcast on September 16, 2024.
In a statement released Wednesday, a day after senior Trump campaign advisers Chris Lacivita and Susie Wiles issued their own statements urging an early debate, the committee said the September event He rightly pointed out that it was the fastest debate ever held. The previous record was set in 1980, when Republican Ronald Reagan faced off against independent John Anderson on September 21st.
Trump's senior advisers, Chris Lacivita and Susie Wiles, issued additional statements to the committee Wednesday night, saying the general debate schedule will remain the same this term.
Trump campaign advisers reiterate their intention to work directly with the Biden campaign in organizing early debates, urging “all television networks” to host debates “with or without a robust presidential debate.” called out.
“As always, CPD will ensure that the American people have access to the debates by considering religious and federal holidays, early voting dates, and the closing dates of each state's legislature when selecting debate dates,” the committee said. We took into consideration multiple factors, including Ballot paper.
The committee also pushed back against a Trump aide's claim that “millions of Americans would have already voted” at the time of the first debate, saying, “Each state's early voting rules “After comprehensive consideration, we intentionally chose September 16th.” ”, including considering that North Carolina began shipping mail-in ballots on September 6th.
On September 16, the day of the first debate, Pennsylvania voters will be able to pick up, fill out and return their ballots at county election boards, CPD notes. Minnesota was one of the first states to implement in-person early voting, and voters in the state can begin voting on Friday, September 20th.
“CPD has one mission in mind: to host and produce general election debates that inform and educate the public. Our schedule is designed with that one mission in mind. Universities preparing to host these debates look forward to participating in the historic Forum 2024 series,” the committee continued in a statement.
Following the first debate on September 16th at Texas State University, the committee will hold a second debate on October 1st at Virginia State University and a third debate on October 9th. announced plans to hold the event at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. A vice presidential debate is scheduled to be held on September 25th at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.
President Joe Biden told Howard Stern on his SiriusXM show last week that he would be “happy” to debate former President Donald Trump, but did not say when. Trump and his campaign used the opportunity to reiterate their call for an early debate.
At the rally, before President Trump spoke, his campaign directed supporters to turn their attention to the stage, where a second podium had been set up with the words “Anytime, Anywhere” on it. A banner reads “Everywhere.” His willingness to take on Biden.
President Trump has previously attacked the commission, insisting he would not accept any changes aimed at enforcing the rules and limiting interruptions in the remaining 2020 presidential debates. .
