As the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle approaches, CNN has provided more specifics on the parameters agreed upon by the Trump and Biden campaigns. The debate is set for June 27 in Atlanta, hosted by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. This event will be the first in-person encounter of the campaign between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
In a letter sent to both campaigns in May, CNN outlined the rules and format for the 90-minute debate. Both candidates have accepted these terms. The debate will feature two commercial breaks, during which campaign staff are prohibited from interacting with their candidates.
Biden and Trump will stand at podiums, with their positions determined by a coin flip. Microphones will be muted except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak. Each candidate will be provided with a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water, with no other props or pre-written notes allowed on stage. Unlike previous debates, there will not be a studio audience.
To qualify for the debate, candidates must meet several criteria: they must satisfy the constitutional requirements to serve as president, file a formal statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, appear on enough state ballots to potentially reach the 270 electoral vote threshold, and receive at least 15% support in four separate national polls that meet CNN’s standards.
While Biden and Trump meet these requirements, it is less likely for other candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Jill Stein, to qualify. Kennedy has received at least 15% in three qualifying polls and is on the ballot in six states, making him eligible for 89 Electoral College votes.
This debate is poised to be a crucial event as Biden and Trump square off for the first time in the 2024 campaign. Doubts remain regarding Biden's mental ability to debate.
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