Trump vs. Biden: A showdown of debates set for June and September

The former president announced on Wednesday that the first election debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump would be held on June 27 on CNN and the second on September 10 on ABC television. The Trump campaign also wants to hold two additional debates in July and August.

"It is my great honour to accept the CNN Debate against Crooked Joe Biden, the worst president in the History of the United States and a true Threat to Democracy, on June 27th," Trump announced on his social media platform TRUTH Social. He also mentioned accepting the proposal to organise a debate on September 10th on ABC News.

Trump responded in this manner to a public invitation from Biden, who shared a video on social media.

"Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, and since then, he hasn’t shown up to a debate," Biden said in a video posted online earlier in the day. "Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. I’ll even do it twice."

The first debate is expected to occur shortly after Trump's trial ends and following Biden's return from the G7 summit in Italy. The second will take place before mail voting begins in the first states. President Biden has requested that, unlike in the past, the debates be organized directly by the television networks in partnership with the campaigns of both candidates.

The Biden campaign argues that past debates were too focused on spectacle. It also insists the debates take place without an audience and that moderators can mute a candidate who speaks beyond their time. Conversely, the Trump campaign aims to create the most giant spectacle possible at a significant venue. It has proposed two additional dates in July and August and a vice-presidential candidate debate in July.

The US presidential elections are slated for November 5.