In what will be the earliest Presidential debate in U.S. history, President Biden is set to face off on the debate stage with former President Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27. In a break from tradition, the debate was not coordinated by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Instead, CNN set the rules and will host the debate live from their studios in Atlanta, GA.
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What Channel Will the Trump-Biden Presidential Debate Be On?
CNN is hosting the debate, so it will air live on CNN (channel 200 on DISH) starting at 9:00 P.M. Eastern. However, CNN is sharing their feed with various news partners, so you can watch the debates on those channels as well. They include:
- Fox News (Channel 205)
- MSNBC (Channel 209)
Local affiliates may also carry the debate, so check your guide to see if that includes your market. But remember, CNN will be sharing its feed, so coverage of the debate itself will be the same no matter which channel you watch it on.
Who is Moderating the Debate?
CNN has selected anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash to moderate the debate.
What Are the Debate Rules and Format?
Without the rules established by the Commission on Presidential Debates, CNN was allowed to set its own rules, which were agreed to by both candidates. Those rules include:
- No opening statements – Neither candidate will be allowed to give an opening statement, although they will have a two-minute closing statement. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer each question, with another minute for rebuttals, or responses to rebuttals.
- Commercial breaks – Past debates have not included commercial breaks, but Thursday’s 90-minute debate will have two. However, campaign staff will not be allowed to interact with their candidate during the break.
- No live audience – The debate will air live without a studio audience and CNN has said that the moderators “will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion.”
- Microphone muting – To that point, both candidates’ microphones will be muted while the other is speaking, which should minimize some of the more chaotic moments that occurred during their debates in 2020.
When is the Next Presidential Debate?
At this time, the only other debate is slated for September 10, hosted by ABC News. David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate.
Will Other Candidates Participate in the Debate?
Because of the rules established by CNN, only Donald Trump and Joe Biden are eligible to participate in the June 27 debate. Specifically, Independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. will not participate, although there is a possibility he meets the criteria in time for the second debate in September.
When Are the Party Conventions?
The Republican National Convention (RNC) will be held July 15-18 in Milwaukee, WI, just four days after Trump is sentenced for the 34 felonies he was convicted of following his trial in May. The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is scheduled for August 19-22 in Chicago.
