Uncertainty Lingers Over Presidential Debate Plans According to Former White House Press Secretary

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
16/05/2024 21h44

In a recent interview on "Pod Save America," former White House press secretary Jen Psaki expressed skepticism regarding the upcoming debates between President Biden and former President Trump. Psaki, who now serves as an MSNBC host, warned that the debates could easily fall apart due to potential objections from Trump over the terms presented by Biden's team.

Psaki highlighted the possibility of Trump disavowing the agreed-upon terms, stating, "Trump could certainly say, 'I never agreed to those terms in the letter,' and he probably will. That's how this all falls apart." Despite President Biden and Trump agreeing to two debates, scheduled for June 27 and September 10, Psaki remains doubtful about their eventual occurrence.

Biden, when offering the debate terms, quoted Trump's previous statement of being willing to debate "anywhere, any time, any place." Trump responded by labeling Biden as "the worst debater I have ever faced." Psaki found the move by the Biden team intriguing, suggesting that the president is feeling pressure to engage in debates, especially with ongoing anti-Israel student protests causing domestic confusion and the escalating Israel-Palestine conflict on the international stage.

Psaki also noted that if President Biden had merely mentioned considering debates, it would have fueled narratives about his age, referencing the nickname "Sleepy Joe" often associated with him. She jokingly remarked that Biden seemed "on drugs" during his March State of the Union address.

Commending the Biden team's strategy, Psaki stated that presenting a set of rules for the debate was a smart move. The proposed conditions include holding the debates inside a TV studio with microphones that automatically cut off when a speaker's allotted time expires.

Moreover, Psaki shed light on the reason behind the Biden campaign's proactive approach in challenging Trump to a debate. According to her, they anticipated reaching a tipping point on this matter and chose to take the lead rather than being forced to respond to Trump's actions.

The news of skepticism surrounding the scheduled debates comes as both Fox News Digital and various news outlets have reached out to the Biden and Trump campaigns for comment.

As the uncertainties surrounding the debates persist, it remains to be seen whether these highly-anticipated face-offs between President Biden and former President Trump will indeed take place as planned.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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