ABC News to Host September Presidential Debate Between Biden and Trump After June CNN Event

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, are confirmed to face off in an ABC News presidential debate on September 10, 2024.

The debate will be broadcast on ABC News, ABC News Live, and Hulu.

Initial Debate Schedule

Before the September debate, the two candidates will participate in a CNN debate on June 27 in Atlanta.

These debates were scheduled following Biden’s challenge to Trump for two debates, which Trump accepted, though he advocated for additional debates.

Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles from the Trump campaign proposed four debates: June, July, August, and September, in addition to the vice presidential debate.

Trump expressed a willingness to debate Biden more frequently, even accepting an invitation from Fox News for an October 2 debate, though the Biden campaign has only committed to the ABC News and CNN debates.

Conditions for the Debates

Biden’s campaign outlined specific conditions for the debates:

• The first debate should be hosted by a broadcast organization that has previously hosted debates for both candidates.
• Moderators should be selected from the host’s regular personnel.
• The debates should not include an in-person audience to avoid disruptions and should focus on the candidates and moderators alone.
• Firm time limits for answers, with candidates’ microphones only active when it’s their turn to speak.

These measures aim to ensure a serious exchange of ideas without interruptions.

Exclusion of Other Candidates

The Biden campaign specified that the debates should only include Biden and Trump, excluding independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who criticized this decision as undemocratic.

Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) Response

The CPD, which typically organizes presidential debates, announced it would proceed with its own schedule, starting on September 16.

The CPD’s planned debates take into account early voting dates and aim to be accessible to the American public.

They have scheduled debates at higher learning institutions, with the first debate at Texas State University.

The structure and conditions of the upcoming debates highlight the importance of a focused and substantive discussion in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.

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