- CNN and The New York Times offered a glimpse into how Biden and Trump might face off in their first debate.
- No pre-written text or props will be allowed onstage, according to CNN.
- The first debate is expected to be much more structured and less chaotic than in previous years.
In 2020, the first presidential debate between then-President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden devolved into an insult-filled political rancor battle, with Trump frequently interrupting Biden and largely ignoring the debate's intended format.
During the debate, Chris Wallace, then a Fox News anchor and journalist with decades of experience, struggled to contain Trump's tone toward Biden amid the testy exchanges between the two candidates.
But a debate between Biden and Trump in the 2024 election is expected to be more structured and less chaotic.
CNN, which will host the first debate in Atlanta on June 27, reported that the Biden and Trump campaigns agreed to several key rules ahead of the debate: staff will not be able to consult with either candidate during the two breaks in the 90-minute debate; no pre-prepared statements or props will be allowed onstage; and microphones for both Biden and Trump campaigns will be muted while their opponents are speaking.
The New York Times also reported that Biden and Trump will skip opening statements, a feature of debates in which candidates try to set the tone for their speeches. During their responses, each candidate will be notified by a flashing red light that they have five seconds left to speak.
According to the Times, CNN's debate rules included a clear warning that “the moderator will take all necessary steps to ensure punctuality and civility in the debate.”
The network's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will co-host the panel.
Biden and Trump are locked in a tight rematch, with the election likely to be decided by tiny margins of votes in battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin.
While the president won most battleground states in 2020 (with the exception of North Carolina), he faces much tougher headwinds this year as voters continue to express concerns about the economy and the Israel-Hamas war.
For Biden, a strong debate performance will only strengthen his case for reelection, especially among younger and minority voters who were hesitant about Biden's candidacy and may be considering candidates such as Trump or independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
While Biden, 81, has attempted to address and overcome questions about his age, which is a concern for many voters, President Trump has sought to question Biden's overall fitness for the presidency.
The debate also comes just weeks before Trump, 78, is due to be sentenced in Manhattan after a jury convicted the former president in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments he made to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
