President Joe Biden said Friday he would be willing to debate former president Donald Trump, after months of declining to say definitively whether he planned to appear onstage alongside his Republican challenger.
“I am, somewhere. I don’t know when. But I’m happy to debate him,” Biden said when asked during an interview with Sirius XM radio host Howard Stern whether he is willing to debate Trump.
Trump adviser Chris LaCivita responded to Biden’s comments in a post on X: “Ok let’s set it up!”
Biden’s newfound willingness to debate comes after the five major TV news networks and the Associated Press reportedly sent an unprecedented letter to both campaigns earlier this month encouraging them to debate.
“General election debates have a rich tradition in our American democracy, having played a vital role in every presidential election of the past 50 years dating to 1976,” a draft of the letter read. “In each of those elections, tens of millions have tuned in to watch the candidates debating side by side, in a competition of ideas, for the votes of American citizens.”
Biden aides have said they are concerned that the Commission on Presidential Debates will be unable to enforce debate rules with Trump on stage. Though pundits have speculated Biden’s age and affinity for gaffes are likely reasons the president is wary of appearing for a live debate.
Trump, for his part, has repeatedly said he would debate Biden “any place, any time,” after he previously declined to participate in any Republican primary debates.
The commission currently has three general election debates scheduled ahead of the Election Day.
Meanwhile, the surprise interview with Stern on Friday came one day after the New York Times hit the 81-year-old president over his reluctance to sit for interviews and answer unscripted questions from reporters.
“For anyone who understands the role of the free press in a democracy, it should be troubling that President Biden has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term,” the paper said in a statement. “The president occupies the most important office in our nation, and the press plays a vital role in providing insights into his thinking and worldview, allowing the public to assess his record and hold him to account.”
“Mr. Biden has granted far fewer press conferences and sit-down interviews with independent journalists than virtually all of his predecessors. It is true that The Times has sought an on-the-record interview with Mr. Biden, as it has done with all presidents going back more than a century. If the president chooses not to sit down with The Times because he dislikes our independent coverage, that is his right, and we will continue to cover him fully and fairly either way,” it added.
Stern’s interview was a friendly one, with topics ranging from Biden’s courtship of his wife to his first campaign for U.S. Senate.
“I know everyone’s going to think I’m doing a fake interview with you, but you are really here,” Stern said to Biden during the rare live interview.