Biden tells Howard Stern he's 'happy' to debate Trump

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Trump’s on offense, Biden’s on defense, says new RNC chair

RNC Chair Michael Whatley tells ‘America’s Newsroom’ that ‘the contrast couldn’t be bigger’ between former President Trump’s campaign and President Biden’s.

President Biden said Friday he would be "happy" to debate former President Trump during an interview with radio host Howard Stern.

"I am, somewhere, I don’t know when. I'm happy to debate him," Biden said, after Stern said he didn't know whether Biden would participate in a debate.

Biden's comments represent a shift from past remarks about possibly debating Trump. Last month, he told reporters it would depend "on his behavior."

Trump's campaign jumped at the news, with campaign adviser Chris LaCivita writing on X, "Ok, let's set it up!"

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Trump quickly posted on Truth Social a challenge to Biden to debate him at the courthouse in New York, where he's currently on trial.

"Crooked Joe Biden just announced that he’s willing to debate! Everyone knows he doesn’t really mean it, but in case he does, I say, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, an old expression used by Fighters. I suggest Monday Evening, Tuesday Evening, or Wednesday Evening at my Rally in Michigan, a State that he is in the process of destroying with his E.V. Mandate," Trump wrote. "In the alternative, he’s in New York City today, although probably doesn’t know it, and so am I, stuck in one of the many Court cases that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT - A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT! It’s the only way he thinks he can win. In fact, let’s do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight - on National Television, I’ll wait around!"

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, had publicly pressured Biden to commit to debates. The Trump campaign called earlier this month for additional 2024 presidential debates and for them to take place "much earlier" than initially proposed by the debate commission.

Trump, who amid criticism skipped the Republican primary debates as he cruised to clinching the nomination, wrote last month on Truth Social that he would debate Biden any time.

FILE - Former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden during the first 2020 presidential debate at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) ((AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File))

"It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People," Trump posted. "Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE! The Debates can be run by the Corrupt DNC, or their Subsidiary, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD)." 

Trump and Biden met for only two debates in 2020; it was the first time since 1996 that the major candidates didn't meet three times. One of the previously scheduled debates in 2020 was canceled after Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and refused to appear remotely.

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Stern said he fantasized that Biden would call Trump out during their debate over his phone call with Georgia election officials in 2021 about finding votes for him in the state.

"That's the end of the debate. You don't get to run if you're going to fix an election," Stern said.

Biden replied by condemning Trump's actions around the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The Biden campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.