2024 Election

Why the Debate Is Not the Most Important Thing in the World, According to the Campaigns That Agreed to It

Team Trump says it’s rigged against him and the president is on drugs. Team Biden says don’t expect a massive polling shift from a great performance.

Workers adjust signage as preparations take place for the first Presidential debate in the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020

Patrick Semansky/AP

By Evan McMorris-Santoro, Reese Gorman and Tinashe Chingarande

June 27, 2024 06:00 AM

When President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump asked to debate each other, they sounded like two characters facing off at high noon on a dusty Wild West movie set.

“I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!” Trump posted to Truth Social in March.

“Make my day, pal,” Biden replied in May.