Biden-Trump debate: rules to know for tonight's presidential face-off
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will take the stage tonight in Atlanta for the first debate of the 2024 general election. Here are the key rules agreed upon by both campaigns and CNN, the debate host.
The CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast will air on LiveNOW from FOX.
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What time is the Biden-Trump debate tonight?
The debate will last 90 minutes, starting at 9 p.m. ET, with two commercial breaks. Candidates cannot bring prepared notes but can take notes during the debate.
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Will there be a live audience at the debate?
There will be no live audience, a request from Biden’s campaign to avoid giving Trump the chance to play to the crowd.
How will microphone control work during the debate?
To prevent interruptions, candidates' microphones will be muted when it isn't their turn to speak, an effort to curb Trump's tendency to interrupt.
RELATED: Biden vs. Trump: key issues to watch in tonight’s debate
What to expect at tonight's 2024 presidential debate
The first general election debate of the 2024 election season is here, and it’s a historic moment no matter what happens on stage. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are taking part in Thursday night’s debate in Atlanta. Not only is it the first-ever matchup between a sitting president and a former one, but it’s also the first debate for either candidate in this year’s election. And it’s happening so early in the general election campaign cycle that neither man will have accepted their party’s formal nomination yet. Executive Director Policy Institute Jacksonville University, Richard Mullaney, joins LiveNOW from Fox with the breakdown.
How will candidates be positioned on stage?
Candidates will stand at lecterns. Biden won the coin toss and will be positioned on the right side of viewers’ screens.
Will there be opening and closing statements?
There will be no opening statements, but candidates will make closing statements. Biden will speak first, followed by Trump. Each candidate has two minutes to answer questions and one minute for rebuttals, with the moderators having discretion to extend time.
RELATED: Donald Trump has picked his running mate and they will be at Thursday's debate
Who are the moderators for the debate?
The debate will be moderated by CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
Stay tuned for any surprises as the candidates go head-to-head in what promises to be a critical moment in the 2024 election campaign.
This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed.