In a highly anticipated showdown, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to face off in the first of at least two debates before the 5 November election. The debate, which takes place on Thursday 27 June, will begin at 21:00 EST (01:00 GMT) and will be hosted live on CNN from Atlanta, Georgia. This debate comes under pressure for both candidates as they go head to head just a few months after the contentious 2020 presidential debates. With both men formally becoming their parties' 2024 candidates over the summer, this first debate is a crucial moment in the race for the White House.
The debate stage will be an interesting clash as President Biden goes into the debate under pressure to perform well against Trump's unpredictability. There is mixed opinion on how many Americans will tune in, but social media reach may be greater even if viewership is low. Both candidates face serious questions from voters about their fitness for office, from issues related to age and temperament. Biden, who is behind in swing-state polls to Trump, in particular needs a game-changing moment.
The first debate will be earlier than usual and without an audience. Jake Tapper and Dana Bash from CNN will moderate the debate which is expected to last for 90 minutes with two commercial breaks. The candidates' podium placement will be determined by flipping a coin, with Biden set to speak first and Trump getting the last word.
Robert F Kennedy Jr failed to qualify for the debate as he did not meet all of CNN's requirements, specifically having enough state ballots to reach the threshold of 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. The second debate is scheduled for early September on ABC News.
This first debate will be a pivotal moment in the race for the White House and will provide insight into how each candidate plans to tackle key issues facing America today.
Note: This article is based on multiple sources, providing a comprehensive view of the upcoming Biden-Trump debate. All important information has been included to ensure that readers have all they need to understand the context and significance of this event.
