JOE Biden and Donald Trump are set to face off at this year’s first Presidential debate on Thursday night in Atlanta.
But after their showdown four years ago, which left moderator and veteran journalist Chris Wallace stunned, saying he had “never been through anything like this” – there are now new rules in place to try and ensure a less chaotic and more grounded debate.
And the famously hard-to-silence Trump will find himself unable to speak at points during the bout.
In May, both Trump and Biden agreed to a slew of new unprecedented rules never seen in a presidential debate before.
For the first time in over 40 years, instead of the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates putting the show together, the debate will be hosted by CNN, with anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderating.
In 2020, both Tapper and Bash called the debate between the pair a “sh*tshow.”
But after both candidates agreed last month to debate with an array of new rules, the two are now moderating the debate and “will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion,” the network said.
The new rules agreed upon state that candidates will be placed at podiums eight feet apart, jumping right into questions with no opening statements,
A coin flip last Friday decided that Biden will take the podium to the right, while Trump will have the opportunity to have the last words of the night in their closing statements.
After a question is asked, the candidate up first will have two minutes to answer. The second candidate will then have one minute to respond, with another minute then added for the first candidate to give a rebuttal to the second’s response, with the order flipping on the next question.
There will also be no live audience present for the debate, something Biden had pushed for heavily, and microphones will be turned off unless it is that candidate’s turn to speak due to last debate’s issues with Trump constantly interrupting Biden.
Once their time is up, the speaker’s mic will be turned off and the other candidate’s microphone will then be turned on so they can speak without the other cutting into their time.
Timing lights that flash red when they have five seconds left to answer, and turn solid red when their time is up, will be implemented as well to let candidates know when to wrap up their answers.
How to Watch First 2024 Presidential Debate
The first 2024 Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump will begin at 9 p.m. eastern time on Thursday, June 27.
Who is hosting the debate?
CNN will be airing the debate with the network’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash hosting.
How long is the debate?
The debate is set to be 90 minutes long.
Where can I watch the debate?
The debate will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and the streaming platform Max.
Those without a cable subscription can watch on CNN.com.
PBS News will also be covering the debate starting at 6 p.m., followed by a post-debate analysis. Those without cable can view on PBS’ YouTube page here: YouTube.com/live/Ba6wGGFhBkY.
Candidates will not be allowed to use any props or have pre-written notes with them, but will be given paper, a pen, and water at the start of the debate.
For the first time, the debate will also include commercial breaks.
The two 90-second breaks will serve as a resting period for the candidates, during which their campaign staff may not interact with either candidate.
Both candidates are reportedly preparing for the debate in different ways, with Biden preparing with his aides at Camp David, including his former chief of staff, Ron Klain.
Meanwhile, Trump is meeting with U.S. Senators and advisers at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the best strategy for the first debate.
Expert Analysis - Impact of the debate
Measuring the Impact of the debate with an expert:
Southern Illinois University Associate Professor of Political Science Ken Mulligan told The U.S. Sun the “election is effectively tied; it’s closer than any presidential election in decades.”
However, he believes that Trump now has the “momentum and advantage.”
He believes that although presidential debates usually don’t have a huge impact on election results, this one could affect voter turnout, as Biden and Trump both are historically unpopular.
And while Trump is still “the most unpredictable candidate ever,'” Mulligan thinks that Thursday night’s debate could feature fewer personal attacks than past bouts.
“Trump is now a convicted felon,” he added.
“But I don’t see that as necessarily being a huge problem for him, because most Republicans think these charges were politically motivated.”
Biden is reportedly planning to focus abortion rights, the state of democracy, and the economy, according to a campaign memo.
And Trump is reportedly gearing up to focus his answers on inflation, immigration, and crime, according to CNN.
This debate will serve as the earliest ever in any presidential race, 89 days ahead of any other debate in the country’s history, taking place even before Trump and Biden have even officially accepted their party’s nominations.
But also trying to get onto the debate stage alongside Trump and Biden, is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In order to meet the qualifications for this debate, a candidate must meet the minimum requirements outlined in the US Constitution to serve as president.
Both Biden and Trump meet those requirements, as do Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Jill Stein, and Cornel West, who are all running through third parties.
But eligible candidates must also receive at least 15% in four separate national polls and appear on enough state ballots to be able to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to win the election.
Although Kennedy has received at least 15% in three polls and is currently on the ballot in six states, this only makes him eligible for 89 Electoral College votes, making it unlikely he’ll have a spot on stage.
Donald Trump's Potential VP Picks
Donald Trump's shortlist of possible Vice Presidents picks:
Vivek Ramaswamy: A former biotech entrepreneur, he has been very outspoken and active with his support for Trump, who previously said Ramaswamy “performed well” in the GOP primary debates.
Doug Burgum: A billionaire and two-term Governor of North Dakota who endorsed Trump and has since become a personal friend, frequenting television appearances, joining the former President at fundraisers, and even traveling to New York for Trump’s criminal trial.
JD Vance: Venture capitalist, U.S. Senator, and writer of the bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Vance is one of Trump’s most loyal political partners. On Wednesday, Vance admitted he would be “disappointed” if not picked by Trump
Marco Rubio: Florida Senator and former candidate for President. A native Spanish speaker and the son of Cuban immigrants, experts think this pick could possibly help Trump win over some Hispanic voters.
Tim Scott: The South Carolina Senator is the only Black Republican in the Senate. Scott worked closely together with Trump while in office on issues such as Trump’s tax cuts, opportunity zones, and criminal justice reform legislation.
Elise Stefanik: The only woman on Trump’s list, the congresswoman from New York was once an aide to former House Speaker Paul Ryan and also served in President George W. Bush’s administration. But during Trump’s four years in office, she became one of his most loyal and outspoken supporters. In 2022, Stefanik was the first member of Republican House leadership to endorse Trump’s campaign, and did so before he had announced he was running again.
Ben Carson: Carson, a former renowned neurosurgeon, served as the secretary of housing and urban development during Trump’s administration.
Byron Donalds: The 45-year-old Florida congressman has become one of Trump’s most prominent conservative Black supporters. Donald recently was caught on audio saying:
“You see, during Jim Crow, the Black family was together. During Jim Crow, more Black people were not just conservative — Black people always have been conservative-minded — but more Black people voted conservatively.”