U.S. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump agreed on Wednesday to hold two campaign debates — the first on June 27 hosted by CNN and the second on Sept. 10 hosted by ABC — setting the stage for the first presidential face-off in just weeks.

The quick agreement on the timetable to meet followed the Democrat's announcement that he will not participate in fall presidential debates sponsored by the non-partisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades.

Biden's campaign instead proposed that media outlets directly organize the debates with the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees, with the first to be held in late June and the second in September before early voting begins.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site, said he was "Ready and Willing to Debate" Biden at the proposed times.

Hours later, Biden said he accepted an invitation from CNN to a debate in June, adding, "Over to you, Donald."

Trump said on Truth Social he'd be there, adding, "Let's get ready to Rumble!!!" And soon after that, they agreed to the second debate on ABC.

"Trump says he'll arrange his own transportation," Biden wrote on X. "I'll bring my plane, too. I plan on keeping it for another four years."

The swiftness with which the match-ups came together reflects how each of the two profoundly unpopular candidates thinks he can get the better of his opponent in a head-to-head showdown.

The first debate will play out amid a busy and unsettled political calendar, following the expected conclusion of Trump's hush-money trial in New York, foreign trips by Biden to France and Italy, the end of the Supreme Court's term, and the expected start of two criminal trials for the president's son, Hunter Biden.

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No live audience for first debate

CNN political hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will serve as moderators for that debate, to be held in its Atlanta studios.

Disagreements about moderators and debate rules were some of the very questions that prompted the formation of the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1987.

The two campaigns and television networks had held weeks of informal talks on ways to circumvent the commission's grip on presidential debates, owing to years of complaints and perceived slights, according to two people familiar with the matter.

CNN also said that "no audience will be present" at its debate, to "ensure candidates may maximize the time allotted." 

As recently as Wednesday morning, Trump expressed his desire for a large live audience.

"I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds — that's only because he doesn't get them," Trump said. "Just tell me when, I'll be there."

Trump has been pushing for more and earlier debates, arguing voters should be able to see the two men face off well before early voting begins in September.

He has repeatedly said he will debate Biden "anytime, anywhere, any place," even proposing the two men face off outside the Manhattan courthouse where he is currently on criminal trial.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants in

Biden's campaign had proposed excluding third-party candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from the debates outright.

Under the debate commission's rules, Kennedy or other third-party candidates could qualify if they secured ballot access sufficient to claim 270 electoral votes and polled at 15 per cent or higher in a selection of four separate national polls.

"The polling window to determine eligibility for the debate opened March 13, 2024, and closes seven days before the date of the debate, CNN said in a press release.

Kennedy accused Biden and Trump of "colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70 per cent say they do not want."

"They are trying to exclude me from their debate because they are afraid I would win," Kennedy said.

"Keeping viable candidates off the debate stage undermines democracy."

CNN held open the door to Kennedy's participation if he or any other candidate met polling and ballot access requirements similar to the commission's.

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