CNN Finalizes 2024 Presidential Debate Rules: Biden, Trump, and Possibly Kennedy to Face Off

On Saturday, CNN announced that both President Biden's and former President Donald Trump's campaigns had agreed to the debate's rules. It was also mentioned that it is not "impossible" for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to join them on stage.

Candidates must meet specific criteria to participate in the debate. They need to have at least 15% support in four separate national polls and be on the ballot in enough states to accumulate 270 electoral college votes. As of now, Kennedy is on the ballot in six states, giving him a total of 89 potential electoral college votes.

The debate, which will last 90 minutes, is scheduled for June 27 in Atlanta. CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the event. This will mark the first face-to-face debate between Biden and Trump since their 2020 election encounters.

Last month, both candidates accepted CNN's debate invitation, agreeing to the specified rules and formats detailed in letters sent to their campaigns.

CNN has outlined that there will be two commercial breaks during the debate. During these breaks, candidates are prohibited from consulting with their campaign teams.

Additionally, the network specified that the podiums' positions will be determined by a coin flip, microphones will be muted when it's not a candidate's turn to speak, and candidates will only be allowed a pen and a pad of paper during the debate.

Candidates are forbidden from bringing any props or prepared notes to the stage.

Source: Fox News