President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are facing off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election on Thursday, June 27. It’s a historic rematch, the first ever debate between a sitting president and a former president. While some voters might feel a sense of déjà vu, the outcome of this election is far from certain. National polls show a close race between Biden and Trump.
The world was different when Trump and Biden debated four years ago, so we rewatched their 2020 debates to remind us of how much has changed. This time around, we expect the economy, crime, immigration, and abortion to emerge as major issues — and we’re here to help you make sense of these contested policy areas.
The debate, moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, starts at 9 pm ET and will run for 90 minutes. In an effort to keep it focused, there will be no live audience, opening statements, props, or pre-written notes onstage. The position of Trump's and Biden’s lecterns will be determined by a coin flip and their microphones will be muted except for when it’s their turn to speak.