President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to a set of rules for the upcoming CNN debate, including muting microphones unless it is their turn to speak, the network said Saturday.
The event, scheduled for June 27 at 9 PM ET, will be the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle.
CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will host from CNN studios in Atlanta, Georgia.
This event will be a departure from previous debates due to the lack of a studio audience. Additionally, this is the first time since the 1980s that the Committee on Presidential Debates will not host the event.
Although their podiums will be identical, the flip of a coin will determine where Trump and Biden stand.
There will be two commercial breaks to conclude the 90-minute debate between Republicans and Democrats, but campaign staff will not be allowed to interact with the candidates during those minutes. Each candidate is given a bottle of water, a piece of paper, and a pen. Pre-written notes or props are not permitted.
According to CNN, Tapper and Bash said they would “use every tool at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized debate.”
To qualify for the debate, a candidate must secure at least 15% support in four separate national polls that meet CNN’s criteria. The network said it’s still technically possible for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to qualify, but it’s unlikely this will happen, especially given how few state ballots he is expected to appear on. He pointed out that the possibility was low.
During the past two presidential elections, Trump has repeatedly refused to include answers to questions directed at him. His chaotic style seemed to encourage Republican challengers to adopt similar techniques at last fall’s Republican debates, even during Trump’s absence.
Biden was famously moved by Trump’s interruption during the September 2020 presidential debate, saying, “Will you shut up?”
Muting a candidate’s microphone will help viewers follow along (even assuming the muted candidate can still yell while someone else is speaking).
