CNN has disclosed new details on the terms agreed upon by the Trump and Biden campaigns for the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season, set to take place in less than two weeks.
The debate will take place in Atlanta on June 27, and will be moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. This event will be the first face-to-face encounter of the 2024 campaign between Joe Biden and President Trump. Both candidates have accepted CNN’s invitation and agreed to the debate’s rules and format, as specified in letters sent by the network to the campaigns in May.
The 90-minute debate will feature two commercial breaks, and campaign staff will not be permitted to interact with their respective candidates during these breaks.
Both candidates will stand at identical podiums, with their positions determined by a coin toss. Microphones will be muted except for the candidate who is speaking. While no props or pre-written notes will be allowed, candidates will have access to a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water.
Notably, the debate will be held without a studio audience, differing from past debates. However, the moderators will “use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion,” according to CNN.
To qualify for the debate, candidates must meet the requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution to serve as president. Biden and Trump, along with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Jill Stein, who are running on non-major-party tickets, meet these requirements.
Participants must also file a formal statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, which all five candidates have done. Additionally, candidates must be on enough state ballots to potentially win the 270 electoral votes needed for the presidency and must receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s reporting standards.
It is still possible for RF Kennedy Jr. to meet these criteria, as he has secured at least 15% in three qualifying polls so far and is currently on the ballot in six states, qualifying him for 89 Electoral College votes.
