White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sparred with a reporter on Wednesday over questions about whether President Joe Biden will debate GOP front-runner and former President Donald Trump ahead of November’s election.
“Is President Biden going to commit to a debate with President Donald Trump?” Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked.
Jean Pierre responded, “That’s something for the campaign to speak to.”
“Well, we know when the debates are going to be. We know where they are going to be. Is he going to go?” Doocy pressed again.
“You should speak to the campaign,” she said.
Doocy reminded her that Biden previously said in 2020 that he could “hardly wait to debate” the former president.
“You sound like a broken record. You should reach out to the campaign,” Jean-Pierre continued to repeat during the White House press briefing.
Doocy shot back, “Why is this a campaign thing?”
“Because it’s an election. It’s a debate for the 2024 election,” she said.
Doocy continued to press Jean-Pierre for an answer and raised questions about the overriding concerns surrounding the president’s “age and acuity” that may cause him not to debate.
“That’s something for the campaign to speak to, not going to speak about that. But to your question about age, I think I sort of answered that. You know, you are going to see the State of the Union tomorrow. You are going to hear the president lay out his plans. You are going to hear the president, a president who has had a successful three years of progress, still a lot more work to be done,” Jean-Pierre said.
The White House press secretary then laughed when a reporter next to Doocy sneezed and interrupted the exchange.
Jean-Pierre then proceeded to list the president’s record and accomplishments.
Doocy did not back down despite her long answer.
“So just for clarity, it’s possible there will be no Joe Biden-Donald Trump debate?” he asked.
“Is that what you are excited about?” she said. “You asked me three or four different times in different ways.”
Jean-Pierre then moved on to a different reporter for questions.
During a Super Tuesday television panel, Fox News host and former White House press secretary Dana Perino said that Trump should have called for a debate with Biden during his victory speech. However, on Wednesday afternoon the former president did call for a debate with Biden.
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“It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE! The Debates can be run by the Corrupt DNC, or their Subsidiary, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). I look forward to receiving a response. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
