This debate is unique, breaking away from traditional timelines and featuring new rules agreed upon by both candidates. Notably, there will be no live audience. It’s also the first time either candidate will be on the debate stage this season—Biden ran virtually unopposed, and Trump skipped the GOP primary debates. Here’s what to expect.
When and How to Watch
Tune in at 9 p.m. ET for 90 minutes of live debate, moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, straight from CNN’s studios in Atlanta. You can catch the action on CNN or stream it on Max, formerly known as HBO. If you’re without cable, CNN’s website will be streaming it live. NPR is also offering special on-air coverage, and their live blog will provide real-time updates and analysis.
Who’s in the Spotlight?
The stage is set exclusively for Biden and Trump. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. didn’t meet the necessary polling threshold, which required candidates to hit 15% or higher in four national surveys and secure enough state ballots to potentially achieve the 270 Electoral College votes needed for victory.
What’s Different This Time?
Unlike previous debates, this one won’t have a live audience and won’t be coordinated by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Instead, both candidates pushed for earlier debates, bypassing the CPD’s schedule. Following tonight’s showdown, they’ll debate again in September under the auspices of ABC News.
Here are the agreed-upon rules:
- Microphones will be muted except when a candidate is directed to speak.
- No prewritten notes or props allowed; each candidate will have a pen, paper, and a bottle of water.
- A coin toss decided podium positions and the order of closing statements. Biden’s campaign won the toss and chose the podium on the viewers’ right, with Trump’s team opting to give the final closing statement.
Key Topics to Watch
Legal issues will be a hot topic. Trump’s recent conviction on 34 criminal charges in New York makes him the first U.S. president to be found guilty of felony crimes. Biden’s son, Hunter, has his own legal troubles, having been convicted on felony gun charges and facing a second trial for tax evasion in September.
Biden’s age and fitness for a second term will also come under scrutiny. At 81, he’s the oldest sitting president, and if re-elected, he would finish his term at 86. Despite some public gaffes, he’ll need to fend off Trump’s attacks on his mental acuity. Trump, 78, has made Biden’s cognitive abilities a campaign issue, even suggesting he take a cognitive test, although Trump himself has had his own slip-ups.
Expect robust discussions on the economy and immigration, as these are top voter concerns. International politics will likely feature, given the divided opinions on U.S. military aid to Ukraine and Israel.
Biden may use the debate to address his waning support among Black, Latino, and young voters compared to 2020. Meanwhile, Trump needs to shore up support among older voters and possibly mend fences with Nikki Haley’s supporters.
Looking Ahead
Trump is expected to announce his vice-presidential pick soon. A vice-presidential debate is also on the horizon, tentatively scheduled for either July 23 or August 13. Trump faces sentencing in his criminal case on July 11, just before the Republican National Convention on July 15 in Milwaukee. The Democratic National Convention follows on August 19 in Chicago.
Biden and Trump’s next debate is set for September 10. Don’t miss tonight’s crucial debate—it’s your first glimpse into the future of the presidency. The stakes are high, and the time is now. Be sure to watch at 9 p.m. ET.
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