Staff Reports
Republican lawmakers are questioning President Joe Biden’s ability to hold his own in a debate against former President Donald Trump. They point to a video posted by Biden on X challenging Trump to a debate, and criticize it for being heavily edited, raising doubts about Biden’s capability to speak coherently under pressure.
Many in the Republican party are visibly concerned about Biden’s performance in a high-stakes debate, with Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) raising questions about what would happen if Biden’s team couldn’t edit and splice his sentences together during a live debate. Even the Trump campaign called the video a “total disaster” and criticized Biden for needing 5 jump cuts in a 14-second video.
Republicans mock Biden for debate video edits and question fitness to face Trump https://t.co/CVWteN8dAb via @dcexaminer
— Fearless45 (@Fearless45Trump) May 15, 2024
Despite the skepticism from Republicans, both Biden and Trump have accepted an invitation from CNN to participate in a debate on June 27. Biden’s campaign has also committed to participating in at least two other debates before the November election, preferring events hosted by news organizations rather than those sponsored by the nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates. They argue that the commission failed to enforce rules for candidates during the 2020 debates, resulting in disruptive behavior.
Trump wasted no time in accepting Biden’s challenge, confidently asserting that Biden is the worst debater he has ever faced and cannot put two sentences together. Additionally, Trump has consistently attacked Biden over his age and mental acuity, suggesting that he is unfit for office. These remarks have been echoed by several Republican lawmakers as they campaign on Trump’s behalf.
In response to these attacks, the Biden campaign has pushed back, emphasizing Biden’s age as a testament to his extensive political experience. They have also stood firm against the claims about his mental fitness.
In conclusion, Republican lawmakers are casting doubt on President Biden’s ability to debate former President Trump and are pointing to a video posted by Biden as evidence of his potential shortcomings. Meanwhile, both candidates have agreed to participate in a debate on June 27, setting the stage for what could be a heated showdown.
