During Friday’s “PBS NewsHour,” Jonathan Capehart, Washington Post Associate Editor and MSNBC host, expressed his belief that both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, should engage in a debate. However, Capehart admitted uncertainty regarding whether they will indeed do so.
He highlighted Biden’s willingness, stating, “President Biden absolutely wants to debate.” Yet, Capehart questioned Trump’s readiness, stating, “The question is, does Donald Trump? And that, I’m not convinced that he does.”
When co-host Amna Nawaz inquired if Trump and Biden would debate and if they should, Capehart reiterated his stance, emphasizing that they should debate, but he remained unsure about the likelihood of it happening.
David Brooks, New York Times columnist, acknowledged Trump’s expressed desire for a debate but questioned the utility of such an event. He noted that historically, debate outcomes have not necessarily correlated with election victories, citing examples like Barack Obama’s poor first debate during his re-election campaign.
Brooks concluded that while debates may not determine election outcomes, they should still occur.
