Former President Donald Trump has challenged President Biden to a new presidential debate, this time with fewer rules and no moderator, in which he can prove his “ability or lack of ability.”
The 78-year-old Republican presidential candidate called for a “no holds barred” debate in a Truth Social post on Thursday afternoon, a week after Biden's initial gaffe.
“I have the answer to the riddle of Joe Biden's incompetence. Let's have another debate, but this time there will be no restrictions,” Trump said in the post. “A full debate, just the two of us on stage talking about the future of our country.”
Trump suggested the ratings for the proposed debate would “blow everything away” from the new format, even after the first debate, hosted by CNN, drew 47.9 million viewers.
The proposed new rules marked a tit-for-tat exchange between the two political rivals and would be a significant change from the rules the two sides agreed to a week ago when co-hosts CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash were on hand to host the show.
In the first debate, each candidate was given only two minutes per answer, followed by a minute of rebuttal, with their microphones turned off when time was up or their opponent was speaking.
Trump, 78, argued that the format would allow Biden, 81, to explain away many of the policies he enacted during his first term that have been seen as bad for the American people.
“I want Joe to explain to me why he wants open borders and why he wants men to play women's sports when our once great country is being inundated with millions of people, so many violent criminals from unknown places,” Trump said.
“Or requiring all cars to be electric within five years, or why inflation has run rampant and ruined the nation, etc.
“It will also demonstrate his 'competence', or lack thereof, under great pressure,” Trump argued, mocking growing calls for Biden to drop out of the race following his disastrous performance in the first debate.
On June 27, Biden faced off against Trump on stage at the debate, and froze within the first few minutes of the debate before claiming that he had “won Medicare for All.”
Following Biden's dismal performance in the debate, several leading Democratic figures, including the editorial boards of The New York Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, called on Biden to abandon his reelection bid.
Biden invited about two dozen Democratic governors to the White House on Wednesday to rally support and quell growing pressure for him to drop out of the presidential race.
However, during the meeting, Biden reportedly told attendees that they needed to get more sleep, work fewer hours and avoid events held after 8 p.m.
Biden's comments came after earlier reports that he would only be able to fully function between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Around the same time that Trump challenged him to a debate, Biden appeared to make several gaffes and false statements while speaking at the official Fourth of July celebration at the White House.
Trump said the new debate would be a new test for him.
“What a great night,” Trump said. “Just the two of us, one-on-one, a good old fashioned debate, anytime, anywhere, any place!!!”
Days after the debate, leaked video footage showed the Republican presidential candidate sitting in a golf cart with his youngest son, Barron Trump, suggesting his 2024 opponent would soon drop out of the race and calling Trump a “broken pile of garbage.”
The second debate has already been agreed upon by both sides and is scheduled for September 10th at 9pm, with Biden already vowing to return to the stage.
Biden and the White House have not responded to Trump's proposal.