President Biden responded with a smile on Wednesday after being asked whether he would debate former President Donald Trump for a third time, and possibly even Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Shortly after the president announced the opportunity to discuss RFK Jr. had laughed away to debate, the latter posted on X that he would debate both Trump and Biden.
“I am happy to report that I meet the criteria to participate in the [CNN] debate before the June 20 deadline,” RFK Jr. wrote. “I look forward to holding Presidents Biden and Trump accountable in Atlanta on June 27 for their performance in giving Americans the debate they deserve.”
TRUMP URGES BIDEN TO FOLLOW DEBATE PROMISE: 'I'M READY TO GO ANYWHERE'
Biden met with reporters Wednesday at the Joint Chiefs Combatant Commander's Meeting, where he made a few statements before the meeting.
After they finished, reporters quickly shouted out as many questions as they could before being moved out of the room.
One of those reporters was Fox News Channel White House Correspondent Peter Doocy, who asked Biden: “Did you see Trump said he would have a third debate?”
BIDEN GIVES THREE-WORD ANSWER WHEN ASKED WHEN HE DEBATE TRUMP
Former President Donald Trump, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Biden. (Getty Images)
The president is seen on video smiling and looking down after hearing Doocy's question.
'Would you? Why not debate for the third time? Why not?' Doocy asked.
Another reporter asked Biden if he was looking forward to the debates, and he replied, “Yeah, come on.”
TRUMP SUPPORTERS COME TO HUGE NEW JERSEY CAMPAIGN RALLY TO HEAR FORMER PRESIDENT SPEAK AGAINST ONGOING TRIALS
President Biden said Wednesday that he is looking forward to the debates. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Doocy then asked Biden a question, which the reporter captured on his iPhone.
“You don't want to debate RFK Jr.,” Doocy asked, which Biden acknowledged with a smile. “Is that a no?”
Biden and Trump have strengthened their plans to face off during debates in June and September.
TRUMP URGES BIDEN TO FOLLOW DEBATE PROMISE: 'I'M READY TO GO ANYWHERE'
Former President Donald Trump and President Biden will meet on June 29 in the first presidential debate of 2024. (Getty Images)
Trump gave Biden an open invitation to debate anytime, anywhere, and Biden stepped up, telling Trump to “make my day” in a heavily edited video on social media.
Alongside Biden's announcement came a letter from his campaign to the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), which revealed some critical limitations the Biden camp placed on any debate with Trump.
The demands included that there should be no audience so that the debates could benefit American voters watching on TV and not be used as entertainment for “rough or disruptive partisans and donors.”
HERE ARE ALL THE RESTRICTIONS BIDEN'S TEAM DEMANDED IN THEIR TRUMP DEBATE OFFER
The Biden camp also demanded that microphones be muted after time expires, that there be a limit on the number of major new channels that can host a presidential debate in 2024, and that there be no participation from RFK Jr . or other third party candidates.
“The debates should be one-on-one, allowing voters to compare the only two candidates with any statistical chance of prevailing in the Electoral College — and not waste debate time on candidates who have no prospect of becoming president,” the team wrote from Biden.
Kennedy condemned the requirement in a post on X, accusing both Trump and Biden of working together to block him from the debate stage.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Presidents Trump and Biden are conspiring to lock America into a confrontation that 70% say they do not want,” RFK Jr. wrote. “They're trying to exclude me from their debate because they're afraid I might win. Keeping viable candidates off the debate stage undermines democracy.”
Anders Hagstrom of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
