President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, are set to make history when they face off in the first debate of 2024 on CNN Thursday night.
Here are eight things to look out for:
What Trump values Trump has spent much of his public rhetoric addressing personal grievances, rehashing long-denied claims that the 2020 election was stolen, recasting the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol as patriots and denouncing the criminal charges he faces as a political attack.
This laundry list of grievances is unlikely to convince the broad range of voters considering supporting Trump that he has their interests in mind.
That has led Trump's advisers and allies to urge the former president to focus on issues like the economy, crime and inflation.
How will Biden respond to the age question? At 81, Trump is the oldest US president, and any gaffes, incoherence or hesitation during the debate could be heavily scrutinised and distorted by the 78-year-old's supporters.
President Trump's comments on abortion The right, which celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, is now frustrated by President Trump's refusal to push for a nationwide abortion ban, and the left is convinced that if elected, he would take the most conservative stance possible.
What Trump says in the debate will be interesting not so much in what he says, but in who he appeals to.
Inflation watchdog While inflation has slowed from its 2022 peak, the cumulative impact of rising prices has long been a drag on Biden's approval rating.
But Biden has a ready retort to his critics: Many of Trump's proposals, including tariffs, immigration restrictions and interest rate cuts, would exacerbate inflation, experts say.
Read the full article to see the complete list. What to watch out for in tonight's debate.