Jeff Weaver talks about Donald Trump during an interview on Friday. Sanders camp: Maybe Trump is 'chickening out' of debate

The Bernie Sanders-Donald Trump debate could be one of the biggest televised events of the year. But whether it will even happen is a different story, Sanders’ campaign said Friday, accusing the folks in Trump’s camp of dragging their feet.

Sanders’ campaign planted the idea of a debate between the Vermont senator and the real estate mogul during Trump’s appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” this week. Trump seemingly agreed and later put a $10 million price tag on the prime-time event — for charity.


Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said the campaigns have gotten two offers from networks willing to host the debate. Both offers, he noted, “include a major contribution to charity.”

“We are prepared to accept one of those offers and look forward to working with the Trump campaign to develop a time, place and format that is mutually agreeable,” Weaver said in a statement. “Given that the California primary is on June 7, it is imperative that this all comes together as soon as possible. We look forward to a substantive debate that will contrast the very different visions that Sen. Sanders and Mr. Trump have for the future of our country.”

The statement from Sanders’ camp comes after Weaver had told CNN earlier Friday that the process for setting up a debate with Trump was progressing.

“There have been some communication between the campaigns. A number of networks have put forward proposals, including some that would put seven-figure amounts into charity,” he said. “You know this, seems to meet the parameters of what Donald Trump suggested he'd be willing to do.”

Despite noting progress, Weaver also suggested that the pace of the talks have slowed due to reluctance from the other side.

“There's a little bit of foot-dragging now, it seems, on their side,” he said. “It may be that, you know, there may be some chickening out or, you know, an unwillingness to stand on stage and really debate with Bernie Sanders because they know Bernie Sanders is going to do quite well in that debate, frankly.”

Weaver attributed the stalled communication to disarray in the billionaire’s campaign.

“And there may be different views in their campaign about whether this should go forward or not, but we would hope that Donald Trump would keep to his word, that it wasn't just bluster or flimflam, that he, in fact, really wants to have this debate,” he added.

Sanders is prepared to debate anywhere and anytime in California, Weaver said, adding that the senator and voters, too, would like to see the proposed debate move forward.

“I think, frankly, you'd get 35, 40, 45 million people watching this,” he said. “It might be one of the biggest television events of the year.”