Former president Donald Trump on Wednesday accepted Joe Biden’s debate challenge, setting the stage for the first presidential debate of the election cycle next month.
"Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then he hasn’t shown up for a debate," Biden said in a video posted Wednesday morning. "Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well make my day, pal. I’ll even do it twice."
Trump quickly replied on Truth Social that he was "Ready and Willing to Debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September."
Shortly after Trump's response, Biden announced: "I’ve received and accepted an invitation from @CNN for a debate on June 27th. Over to you, Donald."
Trump has also accepted CNN’s invitation to debate on June 27, the network reported.
Bloomberg News reporter Jennifer Jacobs also reported that Trump and Biden have both agreed to participate in a September 10 debate hosted by ABC News.
The confirmation of the first debate comes after Trump repeatedly hounded Biden to agree to a debate. A coalition of news organizations also urged the pair to debate. Biden said in March that his decision to debate the former president would depend on Trump's "behavior," but he told radio host Howard Stern he would be "happy" to debate Trump.