BREAKING: Donald Trump Accepts Joe Biden's Debate Challenge, CNN To Host First Debate Next Month

On Wednesday, the Trump campaign officially accepted President Joe Biden's challenge to hold a presidential debate hosted by CNN on June 27th. For weeks, Trump has challenged Biden to hold a debate "anywhere, anytime, and anyplace," and on Wednesday morning, President Biden proposed two debates to be held in June and September.

Following Biden's viral video post on X, CNN offered to host the first debate on June 27th. Biden wrote, "I've received and accepted an invitation from @CNN for a debate on June 27th. Over to you, Donald. As you said: anywhere, any time, any place."

According to Brooke Singman, Trump reportedly said, "I'll be there," and said he's "looking forward to being in beautiful Atlanta." The debate will have no live audience, and the moderators have yet to be determined. The debate will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Espanol, CNN Max, and CNN.com.

Per a press release, to qualify for the debate, "a candidate's name must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency prior to the eligibility deadline...and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN's standards." The state ballot and polling requirements will likely hinder independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from making the stage, given that he has only gained ballot access in six states. Additionally, his chances of polling above 15 percent in four national polls are slim.

"Presidents Trump and Biden are colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70% say they do not want. They are trying to exclude me from their debate because they are afraid I would win. Keeping viable candidates off the debate stage undermines democracy," Kennedy Jr. wrote on X following the announcement. "Forty-three percent of Americans identify as independents. If Americans are ever going to escape the hammerlock of the two-party system, now is the time to do it. These are the two most unpopular candidates in living memory. By excluding me from the stage, Presidents Biden and Trump seek to avoid discussion of their eight years of mutual failure including deficits, wars, lockdowns, chronic disease, and inflation."

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.

You can follow Sterling on X/Twitter here.