In a move to ensure a wider audience and more informed voters, former President Donald Trump's campaign has requested the Commission on Presidential Debates to schedule the general election debates "much earlier" and add more debates to the lineup. In a letter addressed to the commission members, Trump's campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita emphasized the need to adapt to the changing landscape of early voting.

Citing the increasing trend of early voting in recent elections, Wiles and LaCivita urged the commission to move up the timetable of the proposed 2024 debates. They argued that this would enable a greater number of Americans to have a comprehensive understanding of the candidates before casting their votes. Additionally, the campaign called for more debates to be added to the currently proposed schedule.

Highlighting Trump's willingness to debate "anytime, anyplace, and anywhere," the campaign managers endorsed an immediate start to the debates. The first presidential debate is scheduled to take place on September 16 in San Marcos, Texas, which is 50 days before Election Day on November 5. This timeline is earlier than in previous elections, with the first debate between Trump and Joe Biden in 2020 occurring 35 days before the election and the first debate in 2016 between Trump and Hillary Clinton taking place 43 days before Election Day.

The Trump campaign's request follows a joint effort by major US television networks, including CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox News, who penned a letter urging both Trump and Biden to commit to participating in televised debates leading up to the 2024 election. The networks emphasized the importance of public commitment to general election debates before November's election.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) officials also weighed in on the debate schedule, aligning with the Trump campaign's plea for earlier debates. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump expressed concern about debates scheduled after millions of Americans have already cast their ballots. They believe such scheduling does a disservice to voters who are eager to hear solutions on various pressing issues, including the economy, the border, and crime crises attributed to President Joe Biden.

As the 2024 election approaches, the timing and frequency of debates continue to be subjects of debate among campaign teams, networks, and officials. The Commission on Presidential Debates will have to consider the requests put forth by the Trump campaign and weigh the potential benefits of adjusting the debate schedule to accommodate the changing landscape of early voting.