A consortium of major news organizations, including ABC News, The Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, and others, issued Sunday an open letter urging President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to commit to participating in televised debates ahead of the 2024 presidential election. 

The letter, signed by a dozen prominent media outlets, emphasizes the historical significance of general election debates in shaping American democracy over the past 50 years.

News Organizatons Push US Presidential Candidates to Commit to Debates

The statement emphasizes the critical role that debates have played in informing voters and fostering a competition of ideas among presidential candidates. 

"General election debates have a rich tradition in our American democracy, having played a vital role in every presidential election of the past 50 years, dating to 1976," the letter read. 

It also highlights the substantial viewership these debates attract, with "tens of millions" tuning in to witness candidates present their visions for the nation.

While no formal invitations have been extended yet, the news organizations urged the candidates  to publicly commit to participating in the Commission on Presidential Debates' scheduled events for this fall. 

The Commission on Presidential Debates has set clear dates and eligibility criteria for the debates. It has already scheduled three presidential debates for September and October in Texas, Virginia, and Utah, as per ABC News.

Here is the complete list of news outlets that joined in the open letter:

• ABC News
• The Associated Press
• CBS News
• CNN
• C-SPAN
• FOX News Media
• NBCUniversal News Group
• NewsNation
• Noticias Univision (Univision Network News)
• NPR
• PBS NewsHour
• USA TODAY

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Biden-Trump Debate

The unusual joint statement from news organizations reflects growing uncertainty surrounding whether Biden and Trump will engage in debates before the election. 

Biden has not definitively committed to debating Trump, citing concerns about the Commission's ability to enforce rules effectively.

Trump's campaign, on the other hand, has been vocal about the former president's willingness to debate Biden, advocating for an earlier start to the debates and more events on the schedule. 

Trump himself showed readiness to participate in a debate with Biden "any time, any place, and anywhere." 

"It is important for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate issues that are so vital to American, and the American people," Trump wrote in his post on the Truth Social media platform last month. "Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!"

The Republican National Committee  withdrew from the Commission on Presidential Debates in 2022. 

In the letter, the news organizations stressed the importance of candidates debating directly in front of the American people, and claimed that there is no alternative that can replace this crucial aspect.

"If there is one thing Americans can agree on during this polarized time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high," the group wrote. "Amidst that backdrop, there is simply no substitute for the candidates debating with each other, and before the American people, their visions for the future of our nation."

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