Former President Trump on Tuesday challenged President Biden to a debate this week and an 18-hole golf match, calling it a chance for Biden to “redeem himself” after his disastrous performance in the June 27 debate that dramatically changed the course of the presidential election.
“I’m now officially offering Joe a chance to redeem himself in front of the whole world,” Trump said at a rally in Doral, Florida.
“Let’s have another debate this week so Sleepy Joe Biden can prove to the whole world that he’s got what it takes to be president,” Trump added. “But this time it’ll be men-on-men, no moderator, no restrictions. You can tell us where it’s going to be. Anytime, anywhere.”
The suggestion seems impractical, given that Biden is in Washington, D.C., this week to attend a NATO summit with other world leaders and is scheduled to campaign in Detroit on Friday. The two men are scheduled to hold a second debate in September, and Biden’s campaign has said he plans to attend.
Trump also said: exchange During a June debate, Trump and Biden sparred over golf handicaps, with Biden challenging Trump to “pick up your own golf bag” and suggesting Trump was not physically capable of doing so.
“That’s why tonight I’m officially challenging Bad Boy Joe to an 18-hole golf match,” Trump said, proposing to host the match at his golf course in Doral and broadcast it on television.
Former President Trump offered to give Biden a 20-stroke advantage if he won and donate $1 million to a charity of Biden’s choice. The Washington Post reported in 2016 that Trump Did not run About some of his claims about philanthropy.
The Biden campaign responded to Trump’s comments, saying, “The President has no time for Donald Trump’s bizarre behavior. He is busy leading America and defending the free world.”
“After 12 days of not being seen in public, Donald Trump is now inviting a fictional serial killer to dinner, mocking Marco Rubio, praising Project 2025 architect Tom Homan and challenging the president of the United States to a round of golf,” Biden spokesman James Singer said in a statement.
“Donald Trump is a liar, a convicted fraudster and a self-serving con man. No surprise there,” Singer added.
Biden struggled to finish his thoughts during the debate and stood with his mouth open while Trump spoke, but he showed no signs of stumbling, sparking debate within Democrats about whether he should remain the nominee.
Seven House Democrats have publicly called on Biden to step down as a candidate, and several House and Senate Democrats have said Biden needs to campaign aggressively and do more to demonstrate he can claim a second term.
But now that the president has made clear he has no plans to leave office, an overwhelming majority of Democrats in Congress are backing Biden, and the White House has touted support from members of the House Black Caucus, the House Hispanic Caucus and even Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to claim he has broad support.
“I’m not going anywhere, and I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t absolutely believe I was the best candidate to beat Donald Trump in 2024,” Biden said on MSNBC on Monday, “and the voters spoke loud and clear in the Democratic nomination process.”
Updated 9:08 p.m.
