12 Major Media Outlets Including ABC, CBS, NBC
"Protect 50 Years of Presidential Debate History"
Concerns Over Judicial Risks and War Crisis Uncertainty
The U.S. media have united in urging President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to participate in the presidential debates. This comes amid growing uncertainty over whether the two candidates will attend the debates, as both are concerned about exposing their vulnerabilities, such as legal risks and the Middle East war crisis, raising concerns about increased uncertainty surrounding the November election.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 14th (local time), 12 major U.S. media outlets, led by ABC, CBS, CNN, and NBC, issued a joint statement on the same day, saying, "Presidential debates have a rich tradition in American democracy and have played a crucial role in every presidential election over the past 50 years since 1976," and urged, "Candidates who intend to complete the race should promptly express their willingness to participate in this fall's presidential debates."
They emphasized the necessity of attending the debates, stating, "If there is one thing Americans can agree on in such a polarized time, it is that the stakes of this election are unusually high," and "Against this backdrop, nothing can replace candidates debating each other and discussing their vision for the future of our country in front of the American people."
The U.S. media issuing a statement about the candidates' campaign schedules is considered highly unusual. The NYT noted that this is evidence of the significant uncertainty surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November.
The attendance of the two candidates at the presidential debates remains uncertain. Earlier, President Biden refused to attend the three scheduled debates in September and October, citing doubts about the debate commission's ability to manage fair debates. Former President Trump provocatively stated he would "meet anytime, anywhere" for a debate with Biden, but his attendance is also uncertain, as he has canceled two scheduled debates in 2020 and 2023.
In particular, former President Trump faces legal risks that could negatively impact his election strategy in the debates. As the first U.S. president to stand trial as a defendant in a criminal court, Trump must undergo a trial schedule lasting 6 to 8 weeks starting with jury selection on the 15th. Currently, Trump faces 34 charges across four trials, including allegations related to hush money payments for sexual misconduct.
President Biden also risks exposing weaknesses in the debates. He cannot escape responsibility for the expansion of war, as Iran has joined in retaliation against Israel following the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Moreover, as civilian casualties increase due to the prolonged war, criticism of Biden's pro-Israel policy line is growing.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced that the first debate will be held on September 16 at Texas State University. The second debate is scheduled for October 1 at Virginia State University, and the third debate on October 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The vice-presidential debate will take place on September 25 at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.
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