Trump Responds To Biden During Interview
Former President Donald Trump has once again challenged President Joe Biden to a debate, saying he is ready to face him on stage at any time. During a Fox News town hall event in Greenville, South Carolina, Trump told host Laura Ingraham that he is willing to take on Biden, the current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican race.
Trump, who is widely considered to be the commanding frontrunner for the Republican nomination, reiterated his call for a debate with Biden. He argued that it is an obligation for Biden to debate him and said he would be willing to face off with the president anytime, anywhere.
When asked if he would accept any moderator, Trump responded, "I'll take anybody." He also expressed doubt that Biden would actually agree to a debate. "I don't think he's going to debate. I really don't think so," he said.
Trump challenges Biden to presidential debates:
“I’ll do it right now on your show. I’ll challenge him right now.” pic.twitter.com/1ZUyXZFFjX
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 21, 2024
Trump's call for a debate comes four days before South Carolina's Republican primary, where he maintains a significant double-digit lead over his last major rival for the nomination, former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
Prior to his town hall appearance, Trump's campaign released a memo stating that Haley's White House bid would end "fittingly, in her home state" and predicted that Trump would secure the nomination by mid-March. However, Haley, who also spoke at an event in Greenville, South Carolina, made it clear that she is not dropping out of the race.
"I refuse to quit," Haley declared. "South Carolina will vote on Saturday. But on Sunday, I'll still be running for president. I'm not going anywhere." She also dismissed any concerns about Trump's potential backlash, saying "I have no fear of Trump's retribution."
TRUMP ON BIDEN: "He's declined, and there's no question about it ... If I felt diminished or declined in any way, I think I'd know it. And I think I'd say I'm not running. Somebody should talk to him. But if he runs, he runs."pic.twitter.com/RwtUaL0xwc
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 21, 2024
In response to Haley's comments, Trump stated that she is "losing [her home state] bigly" and suggested that she may not know how to exit the race. He also reiterated that he has ruled out Haley as a potential running mate.
Trump's call for a debate with Biden is not the first time he has challenged the current president. In his announcement that he would run for re-election in 2024, Trump said that if he were to run against Biden, "I'd want to debate me, too." However, Biden has not yet confirmed if he will participate in debates as he prepares for his potential re-election campaign.
During the town hall, Trump also addressed the issue of the pandemic, which he has faced criticism for during his presidency. He argued that when debating, he wants to be "smart" and "not waste [his] time," suggesting that he may not have wanted to participate in the presidential debates during the pandemic last year.
For now, the race for the 2024 Republican nomination continues, with Trump remaining the dominant figure. With a large lead in the polls and his campaign projecting a swift nomination victory, Trump appears confident in his chances at securing a second term. As for Biden, he has yet to comment on Trump's latest challenge to debate, leaving many speculating if and when the two will meet on the debate stage once again.