Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday challenged President Biden to a “no holds barred” debate and an 18-hole game of golf with a million dollars for charity on the line, saying he bets Mr. Biden chickens out because he has proven to be a “phony” and a “fake.”
Mr. Trump said after Mr. Biden’s shoddy performance in their first debate, he wanted to give the 81-year-old Democrat a “chance to redeem himself.”
“Let’s do another debate this week so ’Sleepy’ Joe Biden can prove to everyone all over the world that he has what it takes to be president, but this time it will be man to man, no moderators, no holds barred,” Mr. Trump said during a campaign rally at Trump National Doral Miami. “Just name the palace, anytime, anywhere.”
“And in the debate ‘Sleepy Joe’ also declared he wanted to test his skills and stamina against mine on the golf course. Can you believe this? Did you ever see him swing,” Mr. Trump said before mocking a Biden swing. “I am also officially challenging ’Crooked Joe’ to an 18-hole golf match right here.”
“If he wins I will give the charity of his choice, any charity he wants $1 million,” he said. “I bet you he doesn’t take the offer because he is all talk.”
He also said he would give Mr. Biden 10 strokes on both sides or 20 strokes total.
Before the rally, Mr. Trump teased announcing his running mate and pointed out that one of the possible contenders Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida was in the audience.
The event marked Mr. Trump’s first campaign rally in nearly two weeks.
The 78-year-old’s absence has ensured the political world remains focused on the fallout from Mr. Biden’s feeble performance in the June 27 debate.
The first faceoff included an odd back-and-forth of their respective golf abilities.
Mr. Biden claimed he could hold his own against Mr. Trump who is an avid golfer.
Mr. Biden’s struggles have shifted the focus away from Mr. Trump’s recent conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.
The rally came hours after Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and governor of South Carolina, said she was releasing the delegates she won in the presidential primary and calling on them to back Mr. Trump.
It was the latest sign of the party rallying around Mr. Trump ahead of his coronation next week at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Mr. Trump also plans to rally supporters Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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