The presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Wednesday on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” that he would be happy to take on Democratic presidential contender Sen. Bernie Sanders in a debate before the California primary.
Trump said he would be willing to do it as long as a significant amount of money went to charity.
“How much is he going to pay me?” Trump asked, predicting the pair “would have such high ratings.”
Sanders seemingly accepted Trump’s challenge saying on Twitter, “Game on. I look forward to debating Donald Trump in California before the June 7 primary.”
Game on. I look forward to debating Donald Trump in California before the June 7 primary
The Sanders campaign tentatively accepted an invitation last week to debate Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton in a debate on Fox News as long as the two candidates could reach “a mutual agreement.”
Clinton’s campaign declined an invitation to the proposed debate before the June 7 primaries on Monday.
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“We have declined Fox News’ invitation to participate in a debate in California,” Clinton Campaign Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri said in a statement. “As we have said previously, we plan to compete hard in the remaining primary states, particularly California, while turning our attention to the threat a Donald Trump presidency poses.
“We believe that Hillary Clinton’s time is best spent campaigning and meeting directly with voters across California and preparing for a general election campaign that will ensure the White House remains in Democratic hands.”
“Naturally, Fox News is disappointed that Secretary Clinton has declined our debate invitation, especially given that the race is still contested and she had previously agreed to a final debate before the California primary,” Bill Sammon, Fox News VP and Washington Managing Editor said in a statement.
Sanders said he wasn’t surprised that Clinton declined to debate him.
“I gotta tell you this,” Sanders said Monday night, “I think it is a little bit insulting to the people of California, our largest state, that she is not prepared to have a discussion with me about how she will help the Californians address the major crises that we face.”
The campaigns earlier this year agreed in principle to hold a May debate.
California is one of six states holding Democratic primaries or caucuses on June 7. The others are Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota.
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