As the highly anticipated debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden approaches, CNN has released the rules for Thursday night’s encounter. According to the network, the debate will feature a unique microphone system, where one candidate’s mic will be muted while the other is speaking, per Biden’s direct request. This move aims to eliminate interruptions and make it easier for viewers to understand the dialogue.
In addition to this setup, the Biden campaign has also made it clear that there will be no live audience at the debate. This decision is thought to be motivated by the 81-year-old’s desire to avoid potential distractions from a live crowd. This demand was first reported earlier this month, and CNN has now confirmed that it will not host a live audience for the debate.
The debate’s moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, are both known for their bias against Trump, which has raised suspicions that the debate is already stacked against him. This concern is further fueled by Kasie Hunt’s decision to cut off the mic of Trump campaign national secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier this week, sparking accusations of bias from the Trump camp.
The debate is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, with Biden appearing on the right side of the screen after winning a coin toss. However, Trump will receive the final closing remarks of the evening.