Former President Donald Trump has expressed his eagerness to debate President Biden once again, as he solidifies his position as the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican race. During a town hall event in Greenville, South Carolina, Trump reiterated his call for a debate with Biden, stating that he would challenge him “right now” on the show. Trump emphasized the importance of debating and expressed doubt that Biden would be willing to engage in such a discussion.
This comes after Trump initially challenged Biden to a debate earlier this month, to which the president responded by saying, “well, if I were him, I’d want to debate me, too.” However, Biden has yet to confirm whether he will participate in debates as he seeks re-election.
The former president, who did not participate in the five GOP primary debates, argued that debating requires intelligence and should not be a waste of time. Trump’s town hall took place just days before South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary, where he maintains a significant lead over Nikki Haley, his main rival for the GOP nomination.
Haley, a former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, delivered a speech in Greenville prior to Trump’s town hall, dispelling rumors that she would drop out of the race. She stated, “I refuse to quit. South Carolina will vote on Saturday. But on Sunday, I’ll still be running for president. I’m not going anywhere.” Haley also expressed her lack of fear regarding Trump’s potential retribution.
In response to Haley’s comments, Trump asserted that losing one’s home state should not happen and suggested that she is struggling to make the decision to withdraw from the race. He also reiterated that he has ruled out Haley as his running mate.
As the 2024 campaign trail continues, Trump maintains a strong lead in the Republican primary, while Biden’s stance on participating in debates remains uncertain.
