1715783766 Joe Biden

US President Biden challenges Trump to two debates

United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday challenged Donald Trump to two televised debates in June and September.

Biden, however, ignored the three debates proposed by the bipartisan US election debates commission, opting instead for two audience-free clashes hosted by news organizations.

In a video on his X handle, Biden said, โ€œDonald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then, he hasnโ€™t shown up for a debate. Now heโ€™s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. I will even do it twice.โ€

Biden also trolled Trump over his ongoing criminal hush money trial in New York, which features a mid-week break.

โ€œSo letโ€™s pick the dates Donald. I hear youโ€™re free on Wednesdays,โ€ he said.

The Democrat and the Republican have been sparring for months over debates, for years a traditional part of any US presidential election campaign, but there has been uncertainty over whether they would go ahead.

Describing Biden as โ€œthe WORST debater I have ever faced,โ€ Trump called for a โ€œvery large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds.โ€