CNN Releases Rules for Upcoming Trump/Biden Debate

CNN has announced the final rules for the first scheduled debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, stating on Saturday that both camps had agreed to a number of stipulations for the event set to take place on June 27th.

According to the report published Saturday, both Trump and Biden have agreed to a 90-minute face-off with two commercial breaks — which will be hosted by “State of the Union” anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash — during which neither candidate will be allowed any contact with members of their campaign.

Inbox: CNN finalizes debate rules.
Podiums
No props or notes
Each gets a pen, pad, bottle of water
Mics muted except when it’s their turn to speak
cnn says, by their calculation, RFK jr. Only only the ballot for 89 electoral votes so unlikely to qualify. pic.twitter.com/HxF09TNH3k

— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) June 15, 2024

In addition, the former president and the current president — whose 2020 debates were marked with insults and interruptions from both parties — have also agreed to have microphones muted when it is not their turn to speak. They will not be permitted to bring notes or props, but they will each be given a bottle of water, a pen, and paper for use during the debate.

Both candidates will stand behind a podium for the duration of the debate, and will flip a coin at the outset to determine who stands where.

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While it is possible that other candidates — namely Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Jill Stein — could qualify for the debates, it is unlikely. In order to qualify, they would have to receive at least 15% in at least four national polls, and they also have to appear on the ballot in enough states that they could possibly win 270 electoral votes.

Of the three non-major party candidates, only Kennedy has received more than 15% in any qualifying poll — but he is still one short with just three. In addition, Kennedy is only on the ballot in six states and has a possible electoral vote total of just 89, leaving him 181 short of the total necessary to participate in the debate.

As previously noted, one major change from debates in years past is that this debate will have no studio audience.

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