Trump says he’ll debate Sanders to raise $10m for women’s health
Rival presidential hopefuls toss around idea of head-to-head, as crucial June 7 California primary approaches
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Chances are likely slim, but rival presidential hopefuls Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders may debate each other heading into the crucial June 7 California primary.
That possibility surfaced Wednesday, even if in a jocular tone, in an indirect exchange between the Republican billionaire real estate mogul and the senator who Hillary Clinton hasn’t been able to bump from the Democratic presidential sweepstakes.
On ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Trump said he enjoyed watching Clinton’s increasingly heated sparring with Sanders.
“I had no idea it was going to be so nasty,” said Trump, who said he’d be happy to engage Sanders in a one-on-one debate — as long as significant money goes to charity.
“I’d love to debate Bernie, he’s a dream,” Trump told reporters on Thursday in Bismarck, N.D, according to USA Today. But, he added, the debate would be costly: “I’d love to debate Bernie, but they have to pay a lot of money for it.”
“Something over $10 million,” Trump said, adding: “If we can raise for maybe women’s health issues or something, if we can raise $10 or $15 million for charity.”
Trump’s suggestion that the money go to women’s health issues comes amid controversial comments the candidate has made on and off the campaign trail about women, including using crass and abusive language to describe women he does not like, and a contentious suggestion that “some form of punishment” be imposed on women who undergo abortions if they become illegal.
Trump said the debate with Sanders “should be in a big arena somewhere. And we can have a lot of fun with it. I’d love to debate Bernie.”
“The problem with debating Bernie is he’s going to lose. Because honestly his system is rigged. Just like our system is rigged,” he said.
Sanders said on Twitter Thursday that he’d welcome that. “Game on. I look forward to debating Donald Trump in California before the June 7 primary.”
In a subsequent tweet he added, “I am delighted that @realDonaldTrump has agreed to debate. Let’s do it in the biggest stadium possible.”
Game on. I look forward to debating Donald Trump in California before the June 7 primary.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 26, 2016
I am delighted that @realDonaldTrump has agreed to debate. Let’s do it in the biggest stadium possible.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 26, 2016
Sanders’ spokesman Michael Briggs told USA Today that the whole idea was “Bernie’s suggestion,” and that the request was submitted ahead of time to Kimmel who read it to Trump.
Sanders is set to appear on the show later Thursday.
Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver told CNN on Thursday that Sanders was “ready to debate Donald Trump. We hope he will not chicken out. I think it will be great for America to see these two candidates and the different visions they have for America going forward.”
The Times of Israel Community.