CNN To Hold First 2024 Debate Between Trump And Biden With No Audience

On Wednesday, shortly after President Joe Biden challenged former President
Donald Trump to a pair of debates on his terms, CNN announced that it would
hold the first event in late June with no audience in the battleground state
of Georgia.

CNN said in a press release the debate would be held in the cable network�s
Atlanta studios at 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, embracing the proposal from
Biden�s campaign to have the first event in the latter part of that month.

�To ensure candidates may maximize the time allotted in the debate, no
audience will be present,� the press release said.

NEWS: CNN puts out press releaseDebate in Georgia, June 27, 9pm.
No audience.Moderators tbd.

"CNN will host an election debate between President Joe Biden and
former President Donald J. Trump on June 27, 2024 at 9pm ET from
the crucial battleground state of Georgia."
pic.twitter.com/dR74Q9VVLB

� Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) May 15, 2024

CNN said that the qualifications required to participate in the debate
included a candidate�s name appearing on a sufficient number of state ballots
to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency before the
eligibility deadline.

That would leave an opening for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
to make it into the debate stage, though his inclusion would reject one of
the stipulations made by Biden�s campaign to have a one-on-one contest with
Trump.

CNN also said candidates must agree to accept the rules and format of the
debate and receive �at least 15% in four separate national polls of
registered or likely voters that meet CNN�s standards for reporting.�

The polling window to determine eligibility for the debate, according to CNN,
opened on March 13 and closes seven days before the date of the debate. CNN
also listed a number of polls that meet its editorial standards.

Moderators for the debate have since been announced to be CNN�s Jake Tapper
and Dana Bash.

While some see Kennedy as running a potential spoiler campaign, the third-
party candidate has been working to get on the ballot in all 50 states and
has reached double-digit support in some polls. Kennedy said in a post to X
that keeping �viable candidates off the debate stage undermines democracy.�

Trump�s team released a memo addressed to Biden�s campaign that said the
former president had accepted CNN�s debate invitation and noted that he
approved Biden�s proposal for a debate in September.

MEMORANDUM: 2024 Presidential Debates�Let's Do More
pic.twitter.com/2NHs1b3OSo

� Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 15, 2024

In addition, Trump�s aides said, their boss proposed two more debates � one
in July and another in August to �allow voters to have maximum exposure to
the records and visions of each candidate� � in addition to the vice
presidential debate.

Biden�s campaign, which made other demands, including �firm� time limits for
answers and turning off a candidate�s microphone when it is not that person�s
time to speak, did not immediately respond to the counter-offer, but the
president did accept CNN�s plan.

�I�ve received and accepted an invitation from @CNN for a debate on June
27th. Over to you, Donald. As you said: anywhere, any time, any place,� Biden
said in a post to X.

Both Trump and Biden later announced they had accepted an invitation to
participate in a second debate on Tuesday, September 10, which would be
hosted by ABC News. Trump also said he accepted a Fox News debate in October,
but the Biden campaign indicated the president is not willing to do a third
event.

[No audience? Wait, I thought no one watched CNN!]

--
Let's go Brandon!