In an exclusive interview with TMJ4 on Thursday, former President Donald Trump said he would have “no problem” sharing the debate stage with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if the independent presidential candidate met the polling threshold.
The comments to Charles Benson come one day after the Trump and Biden campaigns agreed to two one-on-one debates. The first will be hosted by CNN on June 27 and the second by ABC News on Sept. 10.
The two debates are not part of the longstanding Commission on Presidential Debates, which invited candidates who garnered at least 15% in national polls. A YouGov poll released this week found Kennedy polling far below the 15% threshold at 3%.
“I would have no problem if he got whatever the threshold is,” Trump told Benson. “But he’s very low and seems to be heading in the other direction, in the wrong direction.”
Presidential Election
Biden, Trump agree to June 27, Sept. 10 debates
CNN announced that candidates must receive at least 15% support in four polls and appear on enough state ballots to reach 270 Electoral College votes—the amount needed to win the White House.
Kennedy’s campaign says it is officially on the ballot in six states and has enough signatures to qualify for eight more.
President Joe Biden’s campaign has called for one-on-one debates between the president and Trump.
Wednesday's announcements came after the Biden campaign informed the Commission on Presidential Debates that the president would not participate in the commission's prescheduled debates.
The Biden campaign cited three reasons for dropping out of the Commission on Presidential Debates' forums. One is that the debates are held after some states begin early voting. A second is that the debates are "huge spectacles" that aren't "necessary or conducive to good debates." The campaign added that the commission struggled to enforce its own rules during the 2020 debates.
The conversation with Milwaukee-based Benson comes two months ahead of the Republican National Convention taking place in that city. Trump said there is “a pretty good chance” he will announce his vice presidential pick at the convention.
“I don’t say anything is 100%, but you’re getting pretty close,” Trump said. “I’ll be doing it in Milwaukee. We’re going to have a great time.”
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