CNN has been rebuked by the co-chairs of the Commission on Presidential Debates for its decision to change the format of a typical presidential debate as it prepares for the first election of the 2024 election cycle between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. .
Biden’s campaign notified the committee in May that it would not participate in any debates it hosted and instead planned to participate in some debates hosted by TV networks, saying the committee was “unable or unwilling to enforce its rules.” criticized. Includes content such as “2020 Debate”.
The two candidates then agreed on the date itself, effectively bypassing the bipartisan committee normally responsible for organizing the event.
CNN has been given the go-ahead for the first set, which will take place Thursday in Atlanta before Biden and Trump formally become their respective nominees at their national conventions later this summer.
In an interview with The Hill’s Evening Report published Wednesday, Presidential Debate Commission Chairman Frank Farenkopf said the commission “is not going away.”
“We will be back in 2028,” he said.
Meanwhile, he criticized the network for breaking with many traditions of presidential debates, including not allowing in-person audiences to attend the debates. He criticized Biden’s campaign.
“People say there shouldn’t be an audience because people are clapping and cheering and screaming, but that’s not true,” Fahrenkopf said. “That happens in primary debates, not presidential debates. That’s a fake the Biden people came up with.”
The candidates’ microphones will also be muted when it is not their turn to speak, the network announced.
Fahrenkopf also criticized CNN’s decision to offer two commercial breaks during the 90-minute event, calling it an inappropriate choice.
“This is a significant part of American citizenship,” Fahrenkopf said. “Why would you stop twice to run an ad?”
The network noted that campaign staff would not be allowed to talk to the candidates during the two breaks. Trump and Biden also cannot bring pre-written notes, but they will be handed pens and notepads.
Moreover, Fahrenkopf said after the debate that those who came on air to discuss it might have difficulty providing a “fair analysis” considering it was hosted by their employers, which he called a “real challenge.”
CNN did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on Farenkov’s criticism.
The discussion will be moderated by CNN’s Dana Bash and Jake Tapper.
