President Biden and former President Donald Trump will participate in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections on Thursday at 9:00 PM ET.
The debate, hosted by CNN, will be the first time both candidates have appeared on a debate stage since 2020. The debate will also be simulcast on other networks, including CBS and CBS News 24/7 streaming.
Trump gets the final word of the evening, while Mr. Biden gets to choose whether he wants the podium on the right or left. Their microphones are muted except when it is their turn to speak.
Here are the details:
Who will and will not participate in the first presidential debate?
The debate will only feature the two presumptive party nominees: President Biden and former President Donald Trump.
All non-major party candidates, included Robert F. Kennedy Jr., failed to qualify for the debate stage by the network’s June 20 deadline. Kennedy failed to meet CNN’s demands for access to ballots and ballots.
Candidates had to earn at least 15% support in four approved national polls and appear on the ballot in sufficient numbers states are able to win 270 votes in the Electoral College – the threshold for becoming president.
The Biden and Trump campaigns have a shared interest in keeping Kennedy off the debate stage as the independent candidate looks to gain support from their voters and could ultimately make an impact in battleground states.
Who will moderate the first presidential debate of 2024?
CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderate. The network said the moderators “will use all tools at their disposal to maintain timing and ensure civil discussion.”
Where will the first presidential debate take place?
Mr Biden and Trump will debate at CNN’s studios in Atlanta.
The network said there will be no studio audience “to ensure candidates can maximize time spent in the debate.”
What topics are on the table for the first presidential debate?
CNN has not shared what topics will be covered.
A few possible topics include: border security and immigration, both topics that Trump has hammered the president on; abortion rights, an issue that has roiled Democrats since the Supreme Court overturned Roe. v. Wade; Trump’s felony conviction in a case involving a “hush money” payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election; the conviction of the president’s son, Hunter Biden, for his purchase and possession of a handgun while addicted to crack cocaine; the economy; and voter concerns about both men’s age and health.
How to watch the presidential debate on cable
The debate will air on CNN, but the network will also allow other broadcast and cable news networks to simulcast it. CBS will be one of the networks to simulcast it.
Where can you stream the presidential debate?
Those without a cable subscription can watch it online at CNN.com or stream it on CBS News 24/7 and CBSNews.com, where it is simulcast.
How long will the debate last?
The event lasts 90 minutes and includes two commercial breaks.
Campaign staff will not be allowed to interact with the candidates during the breaks, the network said, meaning the president and the former president were unable to receive feedback from aides during the hour-and-a-half debate.
When will the next debates take place in 2024?
Mr Biden and Trump have agreed to another debate, to be hosted by ABC News on September 10.
Plans for the two events came together quickly after last month’s Biden campaign, two debates were proposed to be hosted by news organizations. The Trump campaign accepted it, but insisted on more than just the two events.
In doing so, they bypass a long-standing tradition of three meetings organized by the independent Commission for Presidential Debates, which has overseen presidential debates since 1988. The committee’s three debates were scheduled to take place in September and October at universities in Texas, Virginia and Utah.
A vice presidential debate could take place on July 23 or August 13.
The Biden campaign accepted CBS News’ invitation to participate in the debate says these dates fit Vice President Kamala Harris’ schedule. Trump has not yet appointed a running mate, but the invitation also applies to his campaign.
