Trump campaign wants presidential debates 'much earlier'

The Trump campaign has asked the Commission on Presidential Debates to schedule the anticipated matchups between him and President Joe Biden earlier in the election cycle, signaling Trump's willingness to work the panel on date and venue.

Trump did not participate in any of the Republican National Committee primary debates, citing his considerable polling lead. Biden, for his part, did face primary challengers, though the Democratic National Committee did not organize any debates at all.

"The Commission must move up the timetable of its proposed 2024 debates to ensure more Americans have a full chance to see the candidates before they start voting, and we would argue for adding more debates in addition to those on the currently proposed schedule," wrote Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris La Civita, according to The Hill. "While the Commission on Presidential Debates has already announced three presidential debates and a vice-presidential debate to occur later this year, we are in favor of these debates beginning much earlier."

"We have already indicated President Trump is willing to debate anytime, anyplace, and anywhere — and the time to start these debates is now," they continued.

The request from the Trump campaign follows his public challenge to Biden to participate, in which he indicated an openness to letting either the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hold the debate or the CPD, which he deemed a "subsidiary" of the DNC.

"It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People," Trump said in March. "Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE! The Debates can be run by the Corrupt DNC, or their Subsidiary, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). I look forward to receiving a response. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.