The Trump campaign is advocating for an expanded and earlier debate schedule ahead of the 2024 election, according to a letter addressed to the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Trump’s co-campaign managers expressed dissatisfaction with the current plan, citing concerns that by the time of the first scheduled debate on Sept. 16, a significant number of Americans will have already cast their votes.
In their letter, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita highlighted the limited number of debates in the 2020 election cycle and emphasized the need for a more extensive and timely discussion between the candidates.
They pointed to historical precedents, such as the Lincoln-Douglas debates, to support their argument for additional debates.
The Trump campaign’s request for an expanded debate schedule comes amidst uncertainty about whether the debates will proceed as planned, as President Biden has yet to confirm his participation.
While Trump’s team has expressed willingness to debate at any time and place, Biden has conditioned his participation on Trump’s behavior.
Major U.S. TV networks are reportedly urging both candidates to publicly commit to participating in the debates before the election. The networks view the debates as important opportunities for voters to assess the candidates and their policies.
The Trump campaign has criticized the Commission on Presidential Debates, accusing it of bias in favor of Biden during the 2020 election cycle. They called for fairness and impartiality in selecting moderators and conducting the debates.
This is not the first time the Commission has faced criticism from Republicans. In 2022, the Republican National Committee voted to withdraw from the Commission, citing concerns about its neutrality. However, GOP nominees have continued to participate in presidential debates despite these reservations.
