“I think it would be a phenomenal debate if it happened,” RNC communications director Sean Spicer said of a potential debate between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. | Getty RNC official: A Trump-Sanders debate would be 'phenomenal'

If a proposed debate between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump were to take place, it would be “phenomenal,” Republican National Committee chief strategist and communications director Sean Spicer said Thursday.

“I think it would be a phenomenal debate if it happened,” Spicer told CNN.


The Vermont senator and Republican presidential nominee — by The Associated Press’ official delegate count — apparently agreed in principle by early Thursday to debate.

Trump told late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday evening that he would be willing to debate Sanders if he agrees to allow proceeds from the event to go to charity.

“Game on,” Sanders tweeted minutes later. “I look forward to debating Donald Trump in California before the June 7 primary.”

Spicer said the debate “would be a huge contrast” in which direction the country could go.

“The only thing that Bernie Sanders offers is another flavor of Ben and Jerry's ice cream,” Spicer said (Ben & Jerry’s founder Ben Cohen unveiled the “Bernie’s Yearning” ice cream flavor in January). “It's a far-left socialist agenda, what he’s got, whether it's foreign policy — the way he wants to partner not with Israel, the destruction he would have with that relationship — our foreign policy, our domestic policy. I think it would be a massive contrast in the direction that this country could choose.”

Spicer also knocked Hillary Clinton for refusing to agree to a Fox News debate with Sanders in California ahead of the state’s primary.

“The other thing that's odd, by the way, is that Hillary Clinton refuses to fulfill her promise to debate Bernie Sanders,” he said. “So there is a void because Hillary Clinton refuses to actually keep her word and do what she said and debate in California against Bernie Sanders.”

Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs told POLITICO on Thursday that the campaign wants the Sanders-Trump debate to happen.