Biden's handlers panic 81 year-old president agreed to debate Trump

• Political analysts suggest Biden’s team might be anxious after he seemed to agree to debate Trump ahead of the presidential election
• Biden’s confirmation during an interview with Howard Stern sparked mocking from Republicans and speculation about staff working on Biden’s campaign 
• Trump swiftly responded, expressing a readiness to debate anytime

Political analysts say Joe Biden’s handlers will be panicking after the 81-year-old president agreed to debate Donald Trump in the run up to November’s presidential election in what appeared to be an unplanned comment.

Speaking during a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning, Biden said he is ‘happy’ to take the stage to debate his 77-year-old rival.

It quickly led several Republican accounts mocking Biden’s decision and that it was beyond his ‘handler’s control’.

‘Crooked Joe Biden says he’s ‘happy to debate’ President Trump. His handlers must be furious,’ RNC Research, an account managed by the Republican National Committee tweeted.

Speaking during a softball interview with Howard Stern on Friday morning, Biden said he is ‘happy’ to take the stage to debate his 77-year-old rival

‘Biden weakly answers Howard Stern that he will debate Trump, HA!’ Fox News host Jeanine Pirro wrote. ‘Guess his aides couldn’t stop Biden before he answered.’

The White House and Biden-Harris campaign had danced around questions about the debate for months, never giving a straight answer.

But when asked by Stern, Biden appeared to confirm that he would indeed face off against Trump.

‘I don’t know if you’re going to debate your opponent,’ Stern asked.

‘I am, somewhere,’ Biden said. ‘I don’t know when. I’m happy to debate him,’ he responded.

Trump responded swiftly, saying he was willing to debate ‘crooked Joe Biden… ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE.’

The debates have been a hallmark of every general election presidential campaign since 1976.

Trump posted a lengthy message on Truth Social agreeing to debate Biden whenever he likes

Trump also continued to agree to debate Biden as he left court on Friday

A verbal spar could be a useful opportunity for both Trump and Biden to display stamina. The pair last met in October 2020

Other political commentators enjoyed the idea of Biden’s staffers squirming at the idea of any kind of head-to-head which might expose a weakness in Biden.

‘”NOOOOO” – Joe Biden Staffers, after hearing Biden tell Howard Stern he will debate Trump,’ joked conservative Kevin Dalton.

‘Idiot Joe Biden announced on Howard Stern’s radio show a willingness to debate Trump! Bring it on!,’ civil rights attorney Leo Terrell wrote.

Trump responded in a lengthy posting to his Truth Social account.

‘LETTER TO JOE: Dear Joe, now that you’ve committed to Debate on the now dying Howard Stern Show, no less, let’s set it up right now. I’m ready to go anywhere that you are. We could do it in D.C., even pinpoint the White House, or in New York when your Radical Left Fascists are finished with ELECTION INTERFERENCE against your Political Opponent, ME… let’s get the Debate going, the American People have the right to know!’

Trump also made a statement after walking out of court in New York City on Friday afternoon.

A number of political commentators surmised the Biden campaign must be feeling anxious after the president agreed to debate Trump in what appears to be an unplanned comment

A podium meant to symbolize former President Donald Trump’s desire to debate Biden sits on stage during a rally earlier this month in Pennsylvania

Supporters hold signs as a message is shown on a large video screen saying former President Donald Trump will debate President Joe Biden anytime, anywhere or anyplace

‘He can do it anytime he wants including tonight. I’m ready. Here we are. I invited him to the courthouse,’ Trump said.

‘I just want to say that I’ve invited Biden to debate,’ he said outside the Manhattan criminal court.

‘He can do it any time he wants including tonight. Ready, where we are. I invited him to the courthouse,’ Trump said, touting a venue he had blasted earlier for its ‘freezing’ temperatures.

‘But we’re willing to do it Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Thursday night or Friday night on national television. We’re ready. Just tell me where,’ he said.

‘We’ll do it at the White House – that would be very comfortable actually!’ he joked.

A verbal spar could be a useful opportunity for both Trump and Biden to display stamina.

Biden, in particular, is still dogged by Trump’s old ‘Sleepy Joe’ nickname – and Trump faced online teasing when he appeared to nod off during his criminal trial in New York last week.

Trump has vowed for weeks to take on his Democratic adversary ‘any place, any time’ before millions of Americans cast their ballots in a rematch of the 2020 election.

The two men debated twice during the 2020 general election – a campaign year constrained significantly by COVID-19 restrictions – and Biden was notably irritated by Trump’s antics in the chaotic first debate that year.

‘Will you shut up man!’ Biden told Trump at one point during the first debate.

Later on Friday, Trump reacted to Biden’s new public willingness to debate by saying ‘everyone knows he doesn’t really mean it’.

Biden himself had previously been vague, saying in March that whether he debated Trump ‘depends on his behavior’.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has already announced the dates and locations for the three general election debates between the presidential candidates: September 16 in San Marcos, Texas; October 1 in Petersburg, Virginia; and October 9 in Salt Lake City.

A dozen news organizations wrote to both Biden and Trump campaigns urging both candidates to participate in the debates.

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