After Clinton Snub, Sanders and Trump Say 'Yes' to California Debate

image
Created: 26 May, 2016
Updated: 17 Oct, 2022
2 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzO-JYjEcHE

After Hillary Clinton declined to debate Bernie Sanders this week before the June 7 California primary, Donald Trump told Jimmy Kimmel on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live that he would be willing to debate Bernie Sanders, for a price. Trump said since the debate would get such high ratings, he would take that money and give it to charity.

Sanders responded shortly after with a tweet, writing:

https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/735689625407131648

This development occurred about the same time as the Public Policy Institute of California released data showing that Sanders and Clinton are polling two percentage points away from each other at 46% and 44%, with Sanders trailing.

No official or final details on when or where or if the debate will actually take place have been announced. This would be the first time in modern U.S. history that this type of debate would occur in the primary stage of a presidential election, and acts as its own snub to Hillary Clinton by both Sanders and Trump.

Trump's first debate with a candidate from an opposing party would be with Sanders and not the presumptive Democratic nominee. It also gives him a chance to speak to Sanders' supporters who may be looking outside the Democratic Party for a candidate come November.

If the debate actually happens, Sanders would get a boost in media attention ahead of the California Democratic primary, where there was a huge last-minute surge in voter registration and registration updates, particularly among young voters. It also gives him an opportunity to show Democratic voters that he can beat Trump in November.

Update 10:00 AM PDT: Multiple news sources are now reporting that after the Internet was set ablaze by this news and every news source ran with it, sources within the Trump camp say he was kidding during his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. 

IVP Donate

Update 2:00 PM  PDT: The New York Daily News reported Thursday that Trump may not have been kidding after all, but has put a price tag of $10-15 million guaranteed to charity. 

Update 3:05 PM PDT Friday, May 27: After changing his mind again, Trump has decided to call the debate off. CNN reports that Trump said it would be “inappropriate" to debate Bernie Sanders, "the second-place finisher.”

 

Latest articles

Custom image that says Immigration reform with two migrants on the left and border security with a border agent on the right. The words Why Not Both are in the middle.
Democrat Senator Gallego Releases Plan for Immigration Reform that Party Loyalists Won’t Like
Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) has introduced a plan for systemic immigration reform and a front-and-center border security plan to reach what he says should be a bipartisan goal of “getting illegal border crossing to as near zero as possible.” ...
16 May, 2025
-
6 min read
A young woman voting.
Pennsylvania Rep Chris Rabb: There Should Be No Second-Class Voters In Our State
A bill that would open Pennsylvania primary elections to over 1.4 million registered independent voters, HB 280, cleared its first major hurdle to becoming law this week when it cleared the House State Government Committee....
15 May, 2025
-
3 min read
Boston
Boston City Council Backs Ranked Choice Voting Home Rule Petition in 8–4 Vote
On May 14, the Boston City Council voted 8–4 in favor of a Home Rule Petition allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference, a shift that could change how Bostonians elect their leaders....
14 May, 2025
-
3 min read