Biden tells Howard Stern he's 'happy to debate' Trump, Trump says he's ready
NEW YORK (TND) — President Joe Biden will go one-on-one with Donald Trump in a debate, according to a radio interview, and Trump responded Friday saying he's ready to go.
During the interview with radio host Howard Stern, Biden said, "I am, somewhere, I don't know when. Well I'm happy to debate him" when Stern asked if he was going to debate his opponent.
Biden is in New York City for the interview on the Howard Stern Show, which is broadcasted on Sirius XM. This is the first time Americans get adefinitive comment from the president that he will debate Trump.
Trump has publicly called out Biden throughout this election year for not debating him.
"Anywhere, anytime, anyplace," posted Biden's predecessoron Truth Social in response to the comments. Trump offered Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evening at his rally in Michigan next week.
The former president criticized Biden's latest rule for electrical vehicles that would require automakers to sell more electric vehicles and hybrids in Friday's reaction, saying Biden is "destroying" Michigan.
Trump, who is in New York City for hishush money trial, even offered to even debate Biden after court. He spoke about the potential debate Friday evening after leaving the courthouse.
I just want to say that I’ve invited Biden to debate,” Trump said. “He can do it anytime he wants, including tonight. I’m ready, here we are. I invited him to the courthouse that he has us tied up in, his administration. This is all being done through Washington. It's a well-coordinated attack on a political opponent.
He added that he's willing to do it at the White House, saying it would be "very comfortable."
So far, Biden's reelection campaign had declined to commit to participating in the debates, a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976.
The president himself had also been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump "depends on his behavior."
Chris LaCivita, Trump campaign senior adviser, quickly responded to Biden's remarks on the social media site X: "OK let's set it up!" The Trump campaign had said the former president is "willing to debate anytime, any place and anywhere," although Trump did not participate in any of the Republican primary debates this cycle.
The Commission on Presidential Debates has already announced the dates and locations for the three general election debates between the presidential candidates: Sept. 16 in San Marcos, Texas; Oct. 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and Oct. 9 in Salt Lake City. The lone vice presidential debate is slated for Sept. 25 in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Biden engages in relatively fewer press interviews than his predecessors, and his aides tend to choose outlets and media avenues outside the traditional press corps that covers the president in Washington. His interview with Stern on Friday, ran well over.
Editor's Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.