First presidential debate of 2024: rules, regulations for Trump and Biden

Updated June 22, 2024, 4:04 pm EST

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will face off in the first presidential debate of 2024 under new rules set by CNN. These include muted microphones, no live audience and no opening statements to ensure a civil exchange of words. Biden is preparing at Camp David, emphasizing responsibility, while Trump engages in policy discussions.

Biden vs. Trump under new 2024 election rules

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet on the debate stage. First presidential debate With Elections 2024 The season is scheduled to air on Thursday, June 27 at 9 p.m. EST. The debate will take place at the CNN Techwood campus in Atlanta, Georgia. It will also be broadcast live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and CNN Max, and streamed on CNN.com.

The 2020 debates were simply chaotic. In response, CNN introduced new rules to maintain order and civility. Now each candidate’s microphone will be muted while the other is speaking, so there is no room for interruption. During the first debate of 2020, Trump’s repeated interruptions prompted Biden to retort: ”Will you shut up, man?”

No audience, no props, no opening statements

There will be no live studio audience this time. The goal is to minimize disruption. In the past, audience reactions often violated the rule of silence during candidate speeches. Opening statements were also omitted from the debate. Instead, it will begin directly with questions for the candidates. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond, followed by a one-minute rebuttal and response to rebuttals. Moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will be on hand to strictly enforce the schedule.

Additionally, candidates are not allowed to use props or pre-written notes during the debate. Instead, they will receive a pen, notebook and a bottle of water at the lecterns, whose position on the stage was decided by a coin toss. Biden took the right-hand seat and Trump made his closing statement to close the debate.

Commercial breaks and strict moderation

For the first time in history, the debate will feature two commercial breaks between the 90-minute broadcast. However, despite these interruptions, campaign workers will not be allowed to contact candidates. This will prevent strategic consultations or appearance adjustments. This new introduction is intended to preserve the integrity of the debate.

Preparation and strategy

Both candidates are preparing for the debate in their own style. Biden retreated to Camp David with a close-knit team of advisers to focus on preparations. Its goal is to hold Trump accountable for his past statements and actions. His team includes experienced debate coaches like Ron Klain and trusted advisors like Bruce Reed.

Trump, on the other hand, holds informal policy discussions with top advisers. This applies to potential vice presidential and senatorial candidates. It aims to sharpen the message on issues such as the economy, immigration and a recent criminal conviction. Trump avoids formal mock debates. Instead, he relies on his experience from previous debates and interactions with the media.

The new rules, combined with the candidate’s unique style of preparation, set the stage for a serious political showdown. The second debate will take place on Tuesday, September 10.