Atlanta, Georgia – President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to go head-to-head in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. The much-anticipated debate, hosted by CNN, marks the first time that either candidate will be seen on a debate stage since 2020. Viewers can also catch the debate simultaneously on other networks such as CBS and CBS News 24/7 streaming.
During the debate, Trump will have the final word of the night, while President Biden had the privilege of choosing whether he wanted the podium on the right or left side. Their microphones will be muted unless it is their turn to speak.
As the date approaches, preparations are underway for the moderators of the debate, CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. The network has emphasized that the moderators will have full authority to enforce timing and maintain a civil discussion throughout the event.
The debate will solely showcase the two major party nominees—President Biden and former President Trump. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to meet the qualifications set by CNN to participate in the debate, including the need to secure at least 15% support in designated national polls and be on the ballot in enough states to potentially secure 270 electoral votes.
While the topics for the debate have not been disclosed by CNN, potential subjects that might be addressed include border security, immigration, abortion rights, Trump’s felony conviction, Hunter Biden’s legal issues, the economy, and concerns about the age and health of both candidates. The 90-minute debate will be devoid of a studio audience to allow candidates maximum speaking time.
Following this debate, there will be one more debated agreed upon by President Biden and Trump, which is scheduled to be hosted by ABC News on September 10. The tradition of three presidential debates organized by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has been altered this year, with only two events being finalized.
To stream the debate without a cable subscription, viewers can tune in to CNN.com or CBS News 24/7 for live coverage. The event is expected to last 90 minutes with two commercial breaks and strictly prohibits any interaction between campaign staff and the candidates during breaks.
In the upcoming weeks, a vice presidential debate may take place on either July 23 or August 13. The Biden campaign has already accepted CBS News’ invitation for Vice President Kamala Harris to participate, while the Trump campaign is yet to confirm their participation.