President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to square off in the first candidate debate of the 2024 election cycle, marking the first time an incumbent has faced a former president in the debate stage. The showdown is also the first time either candidate has faced off against the other since the 2020 election.
The debate is scheduled to take place on Thursday at CNN’s Atlanta studio, beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern time, and will be hosted by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. The candidates met all the qualifications for the debate, including registration with the Federal Election Commission and securing at least 15% support in four national polls.
To participate in the debate, candidates are required to agree to a set of rules and format guidelines. During the event, candidates will not be allowed to use props or written notes and will have only a pen, notepad, and a bottle of water with them on stage. The microphones will be muted, except when candidates are given time to speak, to minimize interruptions.
There will be no live audience present for the debate, in contrast to previous presidential debates where audiences often engaged in cheering and interrupting candidates. The debate is expected to last 90 minutes and include two commercial breaks.
Topic-wise, the debate is expected to cover a wide range of issues, including the economy, which could be a major talking point for Trump, who is expected to criticize Biden’s handling of the economic situation. Trump may also face questions about his age, which could be a relevant topic given Biden’s own age, currently 81, and Trump’s being 78. Additionally, Trump may face queries about his recent conviction on 34 criminal charges in New York, while Biden’s conviction of his son, Hunter Biden, could also come up.
Other hot topics may include immigration, border security, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, crime, and abortion. Specific topics have not yet been announced, but the debate is expected to explore these areas and more.
