In a recent interview with radio host Howard Stern, President Joe Biden expressed his willingness to debate former President Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 election cycle. This is the first time Biden has indicated his readiness to engage in a debate with his political rival.

When asked about plans to debate his opponent in 2024, Biden responded, "I am somewhere... I don't know when. I'm happy to debate him." The president's comment hints at a future showdown with Trump, although no specific details regarding the timing or format of the debate were provided.

Following Biden's remarks during the interview on Sirius/XM, Trump's campaign manager Chris LaCivita responded on social media. However, Trump himself poured cold water on the idea, claiming that "everyone knows he doesn't really mean it." In a post on his social media platform, Trump jokingly suggested that Biden should debate him at his rally in Michigan next week or even in New York City, where both leaders were present on Friday.

Trump, who skipped all four Republican National Committee-sanctioned primary election debates in 2024 and withdrew from one of his three debates with Biden during the 2020 election, has called on Biden to participate in the three general debates scheduled for this fall. However, concerns have been raised by the Biden campaign about the organization of these debates by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The campaign argues that the nonpartisan group, which has sponsored the events since the 1980s, has not been clear about its ability to administer a "fair" debate with Trump.

Notably, in April 2022, the Republican National Committee unanimously voted to withdraw from the Commission on Presidential Debates, adding to the tensions surrounding these highly anticipated face-offs.

During the interview with Stern, Biden delved into personal matters, opening up about his life story and how overcoming his stuttering condition made him more compassionate towards others. He also revealed that he had experienced a fleeting moment of suicidal thoughts after the devastating loss of his first wife and daughter, emphasizing the importance of support systems, including his two children.

The president became emotional while discussing the passing of his son Beau and his father, highlighting the impact these losses have had on his life.

Another topic addressed during the interview was the issue of abortion. Biden assured Stern that, if reelected, he would be able to garner enough support in Congress to reinstate Roe v. Wade, the nationwide abortion guarantee that was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022. He expressed belief that there would be a "real lesson learned" for Republicans who support the MAGA movement, suggesting that an increasing number of state referenda may push for the reinstatement of abortion rights.

In a few instances, Biden made verbal slips, referring to Nixon as Trump before correcting himself and attributing it to a "Freudian slip." He also mistakenly referenced the Gridiron Club as a future speaking engagement, when in fact, he had already spoken at the event in March. Biden went on to accuse the press of not being as critical of Trump as they had been in the past, stating his belief that some members of the media are apprehensive about confronting the former president.

As the 2024 election cycle continues to unfold, the prospect of a Biden-Trump debate looms large. Both campaigns are now at odds regarding the logistics and feasibility of these debates. The nation watches and awaits further developments on this front, which will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the political landscape.