In a joint statement released on Sunday, FOX News Media and eleven other national news organizations called on the presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential nominees to publicly commit to participating in general election debates prior to the 2024 election. The statement emphasized the importance of these debates in the American democratic process and urged the candidates to uphold the rich tradition of engaging in a competition of ideas for the votes of American citizens.

The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), responsible for organizing presidential and vice presidential debates for over three decades, has already announced the sites and dates for the 2024 debates. The presidential debates are scheduled to occur at Texas State University in San Marcos on September 16, at Virginia State University in Petersburg on October 1, and at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City on October 9. The lone vice presidential debate is set to take place at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania on September 25.

While the CPD has made the necessary arrangements for the debates, the news organizations' statement highlights the importance of the candidates publicly stating their support and intention to participate. It emphasized that although it may be too early for invitations to be extended, it is not too early for candidates who expect to meet the eligibility criteria to vocally express their commitment to the debates.

The joint statement stressed that the stakes of the 2024 election are exceptionally high, and there is no substitute for candidates debating with each other and presenting their visions before the American people. Alongside FOX News Media, other prominent news organizations including ABC News, The Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, C-SPAN, NBCUniversal News Group, NewsNation Noticias Univision, NPR, PBS NewsHour, and USA TODAY also signed the statement, reflecting a strong consensus among media outlets on the significance of the presidential debates.

In the past, tens of millions of viewers have tuned in to watch the candidates face off in these debates, making them a crucial part of the election process. As voting begins earlier and earlier, the call for earlier debates gains traction, with Trump's campaign explicitly expressing support for early debates due to the increasingly early start of voting. The Biden campaign, while not yet committed to the scheduled debates, has indicated willingness to engage in debates with the president.

As the 2024 election nears, it remains to be seen whether the presumptive nominees will heed the call from the news organizations and publicly commit to participating in the general election debates. The nation eagerly awaits the opportunity to witness these crucial moments that shape the future of the country.