US President Biden and his likely challenger Trump have agreed on rules for their first TV duel on June 27. Both want to do without a studio audience for the 90-minute encounter on CNN.
Ahead of the US presidential election in November, President Joe Biden and his presumed challenger Donald Trump have agreed on the rules for their first TV debate at the end of the month. The debate will last 90 minutes, the television channel CNN announced. There will be two moderators on June 27, but no studio audience.
“Both candidates have agreed to appear on a podium,” CNN said. “Their podium positions will be determined by a coin toss.” It was also decided that only the microphone of the respective speaker would be open. The microphone of the other would be muted during this time.
The candidates will reportedly only receive a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water. During the one-and-a-half-hour duel, which will be recorded in the city of Atlanta in the state of Georgia, there will be two commercial breaks. During these breaks, Biden and Trump will not be allowed to have any contact with their staff.
TV duels on 27 June and 10 September
“Some aspects of the debate – including the absence of a studio audience – will be a departure from previous debates,” CNN said. Moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will “use all the tools at their disposal to enforce the timing and ensure a civilized discussion.” Biden and Trump agreed in May to hold two televised debates. The first will take place on June 27 on CNN, the second on September 10 on ABC.
Trump and Biden in a TV duel in 2020. This time they only receive a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water – their staff are not allowed to contact them.
Biden and Trump have not yet been formally nominated as their parties' presidential candidates for the November 5 election, but this is considered a mere formality for both. The 78-year-old Trump has already won the Republican primaries by a landslide, although these are not yet over. In the Democratic primaries, which are also still ongoing, the 81-year-old Biden has no promising competition.
The Republicans will nominate their presidential candidate at a party convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in mid-July. The Democratic Party's nominating convention will follow in August in Chicago, Illinois. Before the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Biden, the two also had two TV debates. Both repeatedly interrupted each other.
