(NewsNation) President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to appear next week in the first presidential debate of 2024. The debate, hosted by CNN in Atlanta, will mark the first time both men have shared the stage together since 2020.
The race remains close, with a Hill/Decision Desk poll conducted Wednesday showing Trump leading Biden by 0.6 percentage points. The close poll came amid the convictions of Trump and Biden's son, Hunter Biden, and both convictions are likely to be addressed during the debate.
Trump was convicted last month of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. A recent poll found that only a small number of Republicans said they would be less likely to support Trump after his conviction, while 21% of independents said they would be less likely to vote for him.
Hunter Biden was convicted earlier this month on three felony gun possession charges. He faces up to 25 years in prison. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that a majority of voters said they were not particularly upset by the conviction.
The debate will be moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and will have new rules to prevent the familiar hostility between Biden and Trump. Here's everything you need to know about the first debate.
Where to watch the presidential debates
You can watch the CNN presidential debate live on NewsNation on June 27. Join us for “It's Debate Night with Chris Cuomo” at 8pm ET/7pm CST for pre-debate analysis. Post-debate analysis can be found here. Visit joinnn.com to find the channel.
What time is the presidential debate?
The CNN presidential debate will air on June 27 at 9pm ET. The duration is 90 minutes and includes two commercials.
What are the rules for the presidential debates?
CNN has confirmed that the Biden and Trump campaigns have agreed to rules never before used in a debate, including no spectators, no assistance from aides, no notes and no interruptions.
To enforce the no-interruption rule, the microphone of one candidate will be muted while the other is speaking, and according to CNN, the moderators will “take every measure to ensure strict timing and a civil debate.”
In previous debates between the two candidates, they have been criticized for talking over each other and causing confusion, with one point leading to Biden asking, “Can we just shut up?”
Only paper, pens, and water bottles are allowed on the podium. The podium where each candidate stands is determined by a coin toss. No other props, such as earphones, are allowed. Neither candidate is allowed to call on their aides during commercial breaks.
Some Democratic strategists believe the new rules could benefit Biden.
“I think this will be to President Biden's advantage because it will give him the opportunity to fully express himself and explain himself fully on the microphone without being interrupted by President Donald Trump,” strategist Crystal Knight told “NewsNation Prime.”
Will RFK Jr. attend the debate?
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is unlikely to appear in CNN's presidential debates. To participate in the debates, a candidate must appear on the ballot in enough states to reach the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidential election.
The Kennedy campaign claims it has enough signatures to appear on the ballot in more than 270 states, but many states have yet to verify the signatures. Kennedy is currently on the ballot in only six states, giving him 89 electoral votes.
“They are trying to exclude me from the debates because they are afraid I will win. Barring a strong candidate from the debate stage undermines democracy.” Kennedy wrote to X.
According to CNN, participants must receive at least 15% support in four national polls of registered or likely voters.
Politico reported that Kennedy has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging that Biden and Trump “conspired” to bar him from the debate, a claim that CNN reported is unfounded.
What will Biden and Trump debate?
The debate is expected to cover topics including the border, the economy and Trump's felony conviction. With polls showing Trump continuing to trail Biden on the border, Biden's campaign has sought to make the economy and infrastructure a central focus of its campaign.
Voters on both sides have expressed concern about the health of both men, as they are the oldest major party candidates running for president — Trump turned 78 earlier this month, while Biden was 81.
Biden and Trump go head to head
Biden publicly invited Trump to debate in May, Trump accepted, and two debates were scheduled for the same day. Both Biden and Trump campaigns agreed to the rules set by CNN and accepted the invitation.
“The contrast between President Trump's strength and success and the weakness, failure and dishonesty of the unscrupulous Joe Biden will be on full display in next week's debate,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt wrote on X.
Biden's debate preparations will be led by his first White House chief of staff, Ron Klain, who also served in Biden's 2020 presidential debates and the 2012 vice presidential debates.
When is the next presidential debate?
The next presidential debate will be hosted by ABC on September 10th.
The vice presidential debate could take place on either July 23 or Aug. 13. The Biden campaign told CBS News they have received an invitation to debate on either date, but Trump has not yet chosen his running mate.
