US President Joe Biden says he's "happy to debate" Donald Trump

US President Joe Biden (Pic: File Pic)

United States President Joe Biden on Friday said that he is willing to debate with his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, later this fall his most definitive comment yet on the issue. The comment came during the interview with Howard Stern, the Sirius XM radio host. Stern asked Biden if he would participate in the debate against Donald Trump.

I am, somewhere. I don't know what Biden said. But I'm happy to debate him. 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.

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President Joe Biden himself is unclear as he said in March that whether he debated Trump depends on his behaviour. Following the issue, Trump campaign senior adviser, Chris LaCivita took to X saying that "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 has already announced the dates and locations for the three general elections debated between the presidential candidates. September 16 in San Marcos, Texas; October 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and October 9 in Salt Lake City. The lone vice presidential debate is slated for September 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.

Biden's interview with Stern took a controversial turn as the interview saw topics that included the President's upbringing, family, and his favourite president (Thomas Jefferson).

Less the shock jock of old, Stern still commands a loyal audience. And he's become known for his conversational interviewing skills. He can turn talks with celebrities into revealing discussions, often by asking things others might be afraid to, but not in confrontational ways.

(With AP Inputs)