Lauren Irwin and The Hill
11 mins ago
President Donald Trump, left, and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speak during the debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. on Oct. 22, 2020. President Joe Biden and Trump have agreed to participate in two general election debates: One in June and one in September. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
The first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle is right around the corner, and CNN announced Sunday that President Biden and former President Trump’s campaigns have agreed to new debate rules.
CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will host the debate, which will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27.
Both candidates agreed to appear on a uniform podium, and their positions on the podium will be determined by tossing a coin, CNN said.
Microphones will be muted throughout the debate, except when it is the candidate’s turn to speak. Tapper and Bash will be able to “use every tool at their disposal to enforce time and ensure a civil discussion.”
The 90-minute debate will include two commercial breaks and campaign staff cannot interact with their candidate during the break, the network said.
Candidates will receive a pen, a notebook and a bottle of water, but will not be able to take the stage with pre-written notes.
There will be no studio audience, unlike debates in the past, CNN said.
Biden and Trump reached an agreement in mid-May to debate twice before the election, the first time the candidates have faced off since a debate in 2020. Trump skipped the GOP primary debates this cycle, opting for events of Campaign. .
Biden released a campaign video challenging the former president to meet with him for debates in June and September. Trump accepted the challenge and debates were scheduled before the end of the day.
The June debate is historically one of the first on the general election calendar. The second debate will take place on September 10 and will be presented by ABC.
Biden’s campaign proposed the June date because the president would have returned from the Group of Seven summit in Europe and Trump’s hush money trial would have concluded.
The first debate between Biden and Trump in September 2020 was a chaotic affair. The former president periodically interrupted Biden and the moderator. The debate was marked by personal insults from both candidates, and at one point Biden asked, “Will you shut up, man?”
