Trump calls for first presidential debate to be moved up due to early, mail-in voting

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Trump says he's ready to debate Biden, first debate should be earlier

President Trump reacts on 'Fox & Friends' to allies of Joe Biden suggesting he should not participate in the presidential debates.

President Trump on Wednesday morning called for the first presidential debate to be moved up, citing increased mail-in and early voting that will see many ballots cast in the presidential election before the first debate is held.

"The one problem I have, the debate's very late. It's at the end of September and a lot of ballots will already be cast by that time," Trump said in a "Fox & Friends" interview. The first presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 29 in Cleveland.

Trump added: "Why are they putting the first debate so late? The first debate should be before the first – at least before the first ballots go out. And they have it a month later, almost a month later. It's ridiculous."

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In the swing state of Michigan, for example, absentee ballots can be cast 45 days before the election. In Virginia, in-person early voting starts that early. And in Minnesota, in-person early voting starts on Sept. 18.

The hosts of the morning program then asked the president whether he would like more debates against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. He replied that what he cares more about is that at least one be made earlier.

"I wouldn't mind more," Trump said, "what's more important to me is the first debate be moved up so that when people are putting in their first ballot they're gonna know."

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Another controversy around the presidential debates has been the suggestions by some on the left that Biden not debate Trump, citing the lead the former vice president holds in many polls and the perceived advantage Trump has in such a sound-bite centered forum.

"In all fairness to him, he has not said that," Trump said of Biden. Biden's campaign has also said repeatedly that the presumptive Democratic nominee will be there for the debates.

Also in the Wednesday morning interview, Trump addressed the coronavirus crisis, school reopenings, worries over mail-in ballots and more.

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Besides the first debate on Sept. 29, there are two other presidential debates scheduled for Oct. 15 and Oct. 22. The vice presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City.

The presidential election is set for Nov. 3.