OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Despite his horrific first debate performance against former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden has nevertheless agreed to a second live debate, according to reports.
As he was departing a campaign event in Madison, Wis., and before he boarded Air Force One, Biden was asked if he planned on going up against Trump again. “I hope he’ll debate me. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t,” Biden said.
Another reporter followed up, asking if Biden was clearly indicating he’d do another debate with Trump: “I’m committing now. Absolutely. Whether he’s in or not,” he said.
A third reporter then asked if Biden planned to drop out of the race, as many Democrats are advocating.
“Are you going to drop out of the race, or are you completely ruling that out?” the reporter asked. “I’m completely ruling that out,” Biden responded.
Biden appears to believe he won the first debate against former President Trump. Now says he will absolutely debate Trump again — if Trump agrees.
“I hope he’ll debate me. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t.” pic.twitter.com/3vrysC6OB9
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) July 8, 2024
In a Thursday Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “I have the answer to the Crooked Joe Biden Incompetence Puzzle — Let’s do another Debate, but this time, no holds barred – An all on discussion, with just the two of us on stage, talking about the future of our Country. The ratings were massive for the First Debate, record setting, in fact, but this one, because of the format, would blow everything away! Let Joe explain why he wants Open Borders, with millions of people, and many violent criminals from parts unknown, pouring into our once great Nation, or why he wants Men Playing in Women’s Sports, or demand ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES within five years, or why he allowed INFLATION TO RUN RAMPANT, destroying the people of our Country, and so much more.”
Trump continued, “It would also, under great pressure, prove his ‘competence,’ or lack thereof. Likewise it would be yet another test for me. What a great evening it would be, just the two of us, one on one, in a good, old fashioned Debate, the way they used to be. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!!!”
I have the answer to the Crooked Joe Biden Incompetence Puzzle — Let’s do another Debate, but this time, no holds barred – An all on discussion, with just the two of us on stage, talking about the future of our Country. The ratings were massive for the First Debate, record…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 4, 2024
Biden’s post-debate interview with ABC News anchor and former Bill Clinton adviser George Stephanopoulos did nothing to assuage his critics’ trepidations.
The interview was supposed to fix his disastrous debate performance against Trump, but it did not work, according to his critics, including a growing number of Democrats.
Among those critics was Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham who said on X, formerly Twitter, “That was not a media interview of a sitting President. That was a therapy session with a former Democratic operative begging President Biden to get out of the race.
“There wasn’t a single challenge to President Biden’s statement that America is in good shape under his presidency,” he said.
“America is hurting and the world is on fire. This interview was a disservice to the American people. With all due respect, the American people are not wrong to believe that President Biden is compromised physically and mentally,” the senator said.
Fox News liberal cohost of “The Five,” Juan Williams, said it did not negate his debate performance.
“Even if it was a bad episode, my God, that’s like saying, you know, I’m playing in the Super Bowl and I’ve just had a bad night. No, you prepare, you’re ready. It should not be a bad moment. And, you know, yeah, he was traveling a lot, I grant him that, maybe he was feeling a little bit neuralgic, like a cold or something, but there’s just no excuse. It was a devastatingly bad moment,” he said.