Trump accepts Biden campaign’s debate proposal: ‘Let’s get ready to Rumble!’

Former President Trump said Wednesday that he is “ready and willing” to debate President Biden after the Biden campaign proposed holding two debates, one in June and one in September.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, derided Biden as “the WORST debater I have ever faced” and said the two should discuss border policy, electric vehicles and inflation, among other topics.

“I am Ready and Willing to Debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September,” Trump posted. “I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds – That’s only because he doesn’t get them. Just tell me when, I’ll be there. ‘Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!'”

In a separate statement to Fox News Digital, Trump said the proposed dates were “fully acceptable.”

“I will provide my own transportation,” he said.

The debates would be the first of the 2024 cycle for Trump, who skipped every GOP primary debate, citing his lead in the polls over his rivals. He is leading Biden in battleground state polling, with the two running neck and neck in many national polls.

The Biden campaign earlier Wednesday called for the first debate to take place in late June, after Biden returns from the Group of Seven summit in Europe and after Trump’s hush money trial in New York will likely have concluded.

The campaign suggested a second debate in September ahead of the start of early voting in many states, as well as a vice presidential debate in late July, after the Republican National Convention.

The Biden campaign said it would work directly with news organizations to set up the debates, spurning the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has facilitated the debates between presidential candidates since 1988.

Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon suggested working with outlets that hosted GOP primary debates in 2016 and Democratic primary debates in 2020 to avoid any perceptions of bias.

The Commission on Presidential Debate had announced dates for three presidential debates beginning in mid-September. Trump’s campaign had pleaded with the commission to add more debates and host them earlier, arguing millions of Americans could have cast their ballots before the second debate’s scheduled date in early October.

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