Aides told former President Joe Biden he would debate Donald Trump from "a position of strength." The June 2024 showdown didn't turn out that way.

The full memorandum, first published by Politico, argued that waiting for the traditional fall debate schedule would be too late. It recommended that Biden debate Trump "as early as possible" to reach voters before early ballots were cast in key states and before the race became mired in summer conventions and the Paris Olympics.

Biden's senior advisors urged him to participate in the debate against Trump, which ultimately led to his withdrawal from the race and the nomination of Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate.