Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Sunday that the one-on-one meeting without a live audience is a no-brainer given that presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump is a “disruptive figure” with an interest in entertainment. said that a presidential debate format would be better for U.S. viewers.
“I think this is a benefit for the American people,” Maryland Democrat Van Hollen told ABC's “This Week.” “They want candidates to focus on issues, the economy, foreign policy. What Donald Trump likes is a carnival-like atmosphere. He's more of an entertainer than a serious debater about issues. He has a great personality.”
Last election cycle, the debate between then-President Trump and Joe Biden was marked by constant interruptions, confusion, and a general lack of order. At one point, after Biden was interrupted by Trump, he said, “Will you just shut up?”
The Biden campaign has announced that there will be no audience during the two one-on-one debates agreed between the two major parties' presidential candidates on CNN on June 27th, and the microphones will be turned off if the candidates exceed their allotted time. They called for strict guidelines such as: The second debate between Trump and Biden is scheduled for September 10th on ABC, and the Biden campaign is also open to a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS in July or August.
Mark Lotter, a former aide to Trump's 2020 campaign, told ABC on Sunday that the format of the debate was actually a concern for Biden, and that facing Trump live one-on-one was a “challenge.” ” he said.
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“Donald Trump goes up there two or three times a week and holds the papacy for 90 minutes,” Lotter said. “Joe Biden actually gives very few tough interviews.”
President Trump has since called for additional presidential debates with Biden, as well as a showdown between his vice presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris. So far, only two presidential debates have been officially scheduled.
