Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi shared her reservations about a potential debate between President Biden and former President Trump, stating her reluctance to recommend such an encounter. Pelosi voiced her perspective on Wednesday, emphasizing her personal stance while acknowledging Biden’s decision to engage in the proposed format.
“I myself would never recommend going on stage with Donald Trump, but the president has decided that’s what he wants to do,” Pelosi remarked. She expressed cautious optimism about the suggested format, which entails two debatesâone on June 27 hosted by CNN and another on Sept. 10 by ABCâwithin the confines of a TV studio. These debates are proposed to feature microphones that automatically cut off when a speaker exceeds their allotted time.
Pelosi’s concerns stem from past debates, notably recalling the contentious encounter between Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race. She critiqued Trump’s demeanor, describing his behavior as unprofessional and failing to uphold the dignity of the office. Pelosi referenced Clinton’s account from her book “What Happened,” where she described feeling uncomfortable as Trump loomed behind her during a live audience session.
Biden’s decision to participate in the debates follows recent polling data indicating Trump’s lead in five out of six battleground states. Despite Pelosi’s reservations, Trump accepted Biden’s debate challenge, asserting his confidence in facing the president.
“Crooked Joe Biden is the worst debater I have ever facedâhe can’t put two sentences together,” Trump remarked. He also criticized Biden’s presidential performance, branding him as the “worst president in the history of the United States, by far.”
Pelosi’s perspective underscores broader concerns about the tone and conduct of political debates, particularly in the context of highly charged electoral contests.
