Former President Donald Trump has issued a new challenge to President Joe Biden, calling for a debate and a round of golf to prove Biden’s fitness for office.
Trump, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2024, has challenged Biden to a “no-holds-barred” debate and an 18-hole golf game. He said the debate would give Biden a chance to “redeem himself” after what Trump described as Biden’s poor performance in their last debate.
Biden, who is 81 years old, has faced growing calls from within his own party to drop out of the 2024 presidential race due to concerns about his mental health. These concerns were amplified after his performance in the last debate with Trump.
At a rally in Miami on Tuesday, Trump said, “Let’s do another debate this week so ‘Sleepy’ Joe Biden can prove to everyone all over the world that he has what it takes to be president. But this time it will be man to man, no moderators, no holds barred.” Trump challenged Biden to “name the place, anytime, anywhere.”
Trump also referenced a statement Biden made during their CNN-hosted debate, in which Biden said he would be willing to test his skills and stamina against Trump on the golf course.
Trump told his supporters, “Can you believe this? Did you ever see him swing?” He then announced that he is “officially challenging ‘Crooked Joe’ to an 18-hole golf match right here.” Trump promised to donate $1 million to a charity of Biden’s choice if Biden wins. However, Trump expressed doubt that Biden would accept his challenge, saying, “because he is all talk.”
Biden campaign spokesman James Singer responded to the challenge on Wednesday, saying that the US president “doesn’t have time for Donald Trump’s weird antics – he’s busy leading America and defending the free world.” Singer also dismissed Trump as a “liar, a convict, and a fraud only out for himself.”
Biden himself has repeatedly stated that he is “firmly committed” to remaining in the presidential race, while White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has insisted that Biden is determined to serve out his full second term in office if reelected.
Despite these statements, calls for Biden to withdraw from the election have continued to grow. Many senior Democrats and party donors have urged him to “do the right thing” and quit, fearing he would not be able to defeat Trump.
A survey conducted by CBS News/YouGov in the wake of last month’s presidential debate found that 72% of registered voters do not believe that Biden has the “mental and cognitive health necessary to serve as president.”