Joe Biden’s handlers will be in a panic after the president finally agreed to a debate with Republican rival Donald Trump ahead of the presidential election in November.
In what appeared to be an unplanned comment during an interview with shock jock radio host Howard Stern on Friday morning, the 81-year-old said he is “happy” to share a stage with Trump, after his administration refused to commit to a face-off for months.
A number of Republican accounts piled in following the remarks, suggesting that Biden’s decision went against his team’s wishes.
RNC Research, an account managed by the Republican National Committee wrote on X: “Crooked Joe Biden says he’s ‘happy to debate’ President Trump. His handlers must be furious.”
Meanwhile, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro wrote: “Biden weakly answers Howard Stern that he will debate Trump, HA! Guess his aides couldn’t stop Biden before he answered.”
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Until now, Biden’s reelection campaign had declined to commit to participating in the debates, a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976.
Biden himself had also been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump “depends on his behavior.”
But when asked on Friday about the prospect of a debate, Biden appeared to signal that he would in fact be taking part in a one-on-one with the property mogul.
“I am, somewhere,’ Biden told Stern. “I don’t know when. I’m happy to debate him.”
In the midst of his hush money trial in New York, Trump quickly responded on his Truth Social platform saying he was prepared to face “crooked Joe Biden… ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE.”
Trump also responded in a lengthy “LETTER TO JOE” on social media, writing: “Dear Joe. Now that you’ve committed to debate on the now-dying Howard Stern Show, no less, let’s set it up right now.
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“I’m ready to go anywhere that you are. We could do it in D.C., even pinpoint the White House, or in New York when your Radical Left Fascists are finished with ELECTION INTERFERENCE against your Political Opponent, ME… let’s get the debate going, the American people have the right to know!’
He also repeated the challenge outside the Manhattan court where he is on trial accused of falsifying records to cover up a hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and also denies having an alleged sexual encounter with Daniels, branding the case a politically motivated witchunt.
An in-person showdown would offer an opportunity for both candidates to demonstrate their stamina, after concerns have been raised about whether either of them still have the vigour for high office.
Biden continues to be dogged by the “Sleepy Joe” nickname the former President has consistently branded him with, while Trump, 77, was ridiculed online after appearing to doze off during his criminal trial in New York last week.
