Unfortunately, we don't think the Trump camp is in a position to demand anything — Donald Trump said he'd debate President Joe Biden, anytime, anywhere. It was the 15th when Biden threw down the gauntlet, posting a heavily edited 13-second video saying he was looking forward to it. Trump immediately accepted, even on Biden's terms — that there be no audience, no Robert F. Kennedy Jr., that it would air on a hand-picked list on networks, and that Trump's mic would be shut off while Biden was speaking. Later that same day, CNN announced it would be hosting a debate in June and that Jake Tapper and Dana Bash would moderate, making it a three-against-one contest. It all came together so quickly, as Brian Stelter noted in POLITICO Playbook:
Playbook: "Was this planned in advance? Right after Biden’s video challenge to Trump, the CNN announcement came awfully quick. Network spokespeople aren’t specifying." (But this plan was clearly in the works for a while!) https://t.co/8to9MXwkIu
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 15, 2024
The New York Post is reporting that Trump is demanding a drug test before the debate, which Trump brought up at a rally in St. Paul. Whether he can demand or not remains to be seen, but we know he's but the Biden campaign in the awkward position of having to deny it.
Trump demands drug test for Biden before first presidential debate https://t.co/LvsFFgeBcM pic.twitter.com/qapL7Lft8C
— New York Post (@nypost) May 18, 2024
🚨Trump says he is going to demand Biden take a drug test for the debate because Biden was “high as a kite” during the SOTU! 🪁 pic.twitter.com/dbnWB5pWFK
— Jenna Fredo (@LynkLuv) May 18, 2024
Test him for a pulse too.
— bluska (@bluskabucknut) May 18, 2024
Candidates shouldn't be debating while jacked up on amphetamines.
— Hugh Everett (@HughEverett) May 18, 2024
A drug test prior to the debate is appropriate.
Biden's handlers will never agree to that. But it'll be obvious he's on his usual cocktail at the debate when he's shouting angrily, rushing through his responses, and then begins to sundown in the final half hour.
— AdamInHTownTX (Not a Neurologist) (@AdamInHTownTX) May 18, 2024
You know he’s gonna be on some uppers!
— AmericanPapaBear (@AmericaPapaBear) May 18, 2024
Let’s make it a fair fight!
We all demand it!
— Midnight - Ultra Nuclear MAGA (IFBAP!) (@Nocte_Insanire) May 18, 2024
Who was president when cocaine was found at the White House?
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That should be part of the deal. No exceptions.
— JT 🇺🇸 (@texasjt832) May 18, 2024
This would be incredible! 😄
— Rick (@RickWhoRants) May 18, 2024
Biden will refuse this.
— Johnny (@chopper9826) May 18, 2024
He won't dignify it with a response.
Safe to say that if he were to be drug tested, I have absolutely zero expectation of it being done properly with legitimate results
— John Lawton (@itsJohnLawton) May 18, 2024
Check for an earpiece as well.
— B’Funk (@BFunk111) May 18, 2024
Let them both take as many drugs as they want. That's the debate I want to see.
— monetoshi (@monetoshi) May 18, 2024
Let Hunter hook up his dad beforehand.
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