Donald Trump and Joe Biden are set to face each other for the first US presidential debate on June 27, 2024. This comes after the June Fox News poll suggested that Biden is ahead of Trump after his historic conviction for the first time since October polls.
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As the presidential candidates get geared up to face each other for a debate, former White House doctor Ronny Jackson has sent a letter to Joe Biden with an unexpected demand.
Concerns about President Biden’s age and competency have been swirling around for months. In light of these concerns, Dr Jackson has called Biden to take a drug test before and after Thursday's presidential debate.
Donald Trump open to taking a drug test if Joe Biden does too
In the letter obtained by MailOnline, the Republican doctor has requested drug tests for the president before and after Thursday's debate. Dr Jackson served as a White House physician under former Presidents Trump and Obama. A section of the letter reads:
I demand that you submit to a clinically validated drug test in order to reassure the American people that you are mentally fit to serve as President and not relying on performance enhancing drugs to help you with your debate performance or on a day-to-day basis to assist you in performing your duties as President of the United States.
The drug test would be aimed at monitoring whether the President took any performance enhancing drugs before the debate. This comes after many videos of President Biden went viral in the last few weeks where he was seen freezing on stage during public events. However, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has insisted that they were deep fakes.
In the letter, Dr Jackson singles out Biden’s White House physician Dr Kevin O'Connor and urges him to reflect on his duty to the American people as well. He added that American people deserve ‘transparency’ in knowing ‘the President's mental as well as physical well-being and capabilities.’ After his letter, Trump took to his Truth Social app and posted that he would be ready to take a test too as long as Biden would take one. He said:
DRUG TEST FOR CROOKED JOE BIDEN??? I WOULD, ALSO, IMMEDIATELY AGREE TO ONE!!!
The first 2024 Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden
Traditionally, the presidential debates take place a lot later in the election cycle. However, the first debate on June 27 is going to be the earliest televised US general election debate since 1960. According to BBC, not only is the debate being held earlier to ‘build whatever momentum they can’ for Trump and Biden, but it is also not being organised by its traditional host, the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
The debate will take place live on CNN from Atlanta, Georgia and will also air on CNN International, CNN en Español, CNN Max and the CNN website. It will be a 90-minute debate that will begin at 21:00 EST (01:00 GMT) and will have two commercial breaks. Both the candidates will stand during the entire debate and neither of the campaign staff is allowed to interact with either candidate throughout the event, including during each break.
Each of them will be given a pen, a pad and a water bottle. No pre-written notes will be allowed in the no-studio audience debate. Additionally, the candidates will have their microphone muted except for when it's their time to speak.
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Sources Used
Daily Mail: Donald Trump DEMANDS 'crooked' Joe Biden take a drug test before the presidential debate: 'I would also immediately agree to one'
BBC: When is the first debate between Biden and Trump?
