Influencer Editorial Team
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have both agreed to a series of rules for their upcoming CNN debate, including a provision allowing their microphones to be muted when it is not their turn to speak, CNN announced on Saturday.
The debate is set to take place on June 27 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time and will be the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle. The event will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash at the network’s Atlanta, Georgia studios.
This debate will be unique compared to previous ones due to the absence of a live studio audience. Additionally, it will be the first debate since the 1980s not hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
The debate rules include a coin flip to determine the positions at which Trump and Biden will stand, two commercial breaks during the 90-minute event, and restrictions on campaign staff interactions with the candidates during those breaks. Each candidate will receive a bottle of water, a pad of paper, and a pen, but no prewritten notes or props are allowed.
CNN stated that Tapper and Bash will use all available tools to enforce the rules and ensure a civil discussion. To qualify for the debate, candidates must secure at least 15% support in four separate national polls meeting CNN’s standards. While independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could technically qualify, it is considered unlikely due to his limited ballot presence in various states.
Trump has been known for his tendency to disrupt debates with interruptions, as seen in previous election cycles. His style has influenced other GOP candidates, who adopted similar techniques during Republican debates held last fall, even when Trump was not present. Biden notably reacted to Trump’s interruptions during a September 2020 debate by saying, “Will you shut up, man?”
The introduction of microphone muting aims to help viewers follow the debate more easily, though a muted candidate could still potentially shout over the other.
FAQs
1. What is unique about the upcoming CNN debate between Trump and Biden?
The debate will feature microphone muting to manage speaking turns, will be held without a live audience, and is not hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates.
2. Who will moderate the CNN debate?
CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the debate.
3. What are the rules regarding candidate interactions during the debate?
Candidates will have their microphones muted when it is not their turn to speak, cannot use prewritten notes or props, and their campaign staff cannot interact with them during the commercial breaks.
4. What are the requirements for candidates to qualify for the debate?
Candidates need to secure at least 15% support in four separate national polls that meet CNN’s standards.
5. How will the positions of Trump and Biden be determined at the debate?
A coin flip will determine the positions at which Trump and Biden will stand during the debate.
