CNN reveals the debate rules between Trump and Biden… and one regulation appears to be aimed at the ex-president
The host of the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election season has released new details about the rules for what could be the most consequential political event of the year, with less than two weeks to go before the big showdown.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will face off in Atlanta for the first time since 2020 on June 27.
According to the network, both candidates agreed to appear on a unified stage. Their position on the stage is determined by tossing a coin.
In a new move since the two faced off in the last presidential election, microphones will be muted during the entire debate, except when it is a candidate’s turn to speak.
Additionally, no props or pre-written notes are allowed on stage, but candidates are provided with a pen, notepad, and bottle of water.
The decision to mute the microphones comes after the 2020 presidential debates went off the rails at times, with Trump talking over Biden to the point where moderates have had to intervene in the past to no avail.
CNN releases details of the rules for the June 27 debate in Atlanta, including muting microphones when it is not a candidate’s turn to speak and not allowing props
The debate in the battleground state is the first of two presidential debates to be held before the November elections.
The 90-minute debate in Atlanta includes two commercial breaks during which Biden and Trump cannot communicate with their staffs.
CNN previously revealed that the show would be moderated by hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
The two veteran anchors will have their work cut out for them as they try to keep the opposing candidates on track, as Trump and Biden have both lashed out ahead of the highly anticipated event.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden during their second debate on October 22, 2020 in Nashville, TN
According to CNN, Tapper and Bash will also “use every tool at their disposal to enforce the timing and ensure a civil discussion.”
How successful these efforts will be remains to be seen.
Trump and Biden have lobbied persistent and sometimes extreme attacks on each other since the very beginning of the campaign season.
The ex-president has a habit of mocking Biden at his campaign rallies and pretending to be confused while mimicking the president while on stage. He has demanded drug tests before the debate.
Biden has also targeted Trump over his criminal conviction, criminal charges and the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump had set up a debate stage for Biden at his rallies, and his campaign had printed a series of Truth Social posts challenging Biden to debate before Biden released his own video.
Biden released a video announcing he would debate Trump. He said ‘make my day boyfriend, I’ll even do it twice’ and challenged the ex-president ‘let’s pick the dates, Donald’
Although Biden and Trump are presumptive presidential candidates, it does not appear that third-party candidates will qualify for the debate stage.
To meet CNN’s qualifications, candidates must appear on a necessary number of state ballots to reach the 270-vote electoral threshold to win the presidency and receive at least 15 percent in four separate national polls using standards set out by the network .
It appears that the move will encourage independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. will disappear from the stage on June 27.
While Kennedy is working to get on the ballot in all fifty states, he has only officially gotten on the ballot in just over a handful of states so far, but he claims he has collected enough signatures to get on the ballot in more states to come.
He also seems to shy away from the necessary election requirement.
Based on the requirements outlined, it does not appear that independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. will enter the debate stage on June 27
Trump and Biden have touted the highly anticipated event during their appearances and their campaigns targeted the showdown.
Biden’s team has said the president is willing to hold his predecessor accountable on issues like abortion rights, which boosted Democrats and spotlighted Trump’s agenda.
Trump’s campaign has regularly shrugged off questions about debate preparation, and aides have pointed to his regular appearances for more than an hour at a time at rallies.
For his part, Trump has frequently raised the looming debate while basing CNN against his loyal supporters. He has raised questions about whether the debate will be fair.
While his attacks on the debate host and his opponent may help Trump disapprove of the outcome before it even happens, some of his Republican supporters have expressed concern that Trump’s attacks on Biden’s performance set the bar too low could put before the president if he shows up in the debate. Atlanta.
Both the Biden and Trump campaigns agreed to the CNN debate last month. ABC News will host the other presidential debate in September.