Biden Vs. Trump: The Historic June 27 Presidential Debate

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are gearing up for a historic showdown, with CNN's highly anticipated presidential debate set for June 27.

This event will mark the first debate between a sitting president and a former president, making it a significant moment in American political history. It is also noteworthy as the first debate since 2020 to feature either Biden, who faced no serious challenges for the Democratic nomination, or Trump, who skipped the debates during the Republican primary race.

The debate promises to be a defining moment in a presidential race that has taken shape earlier than usual, spotlighting two universally recognized candidates.

A significant departure from the two Biden-Trump debates of 2020, which were hosted by universities, is that the June 27 debate will have no studio audience. This change could alter the dynamic, focusing more on the candidates' exchanges rather than audience reactions.

The qualification window for the debate closed at 12:00:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, with both Biden and Trump meeting the constitutional, ballot qualification, and polling thresholds set by CNN.

The debate, hosted by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, will take place in Atlanta and last for 90 minutes. Both candidates have accepted the network's invitation and agreed to the rules and format of the debate, as outlined in letters sent to their campaigns in May.

To qualify for participation, candidates had to meet the requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution to serve as president, and file a formal statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.

According to the parameters set by CNN in May, all participating debaters had to appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to win the presidency and receive at least 15% support in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting.

Polls meeting these standards are sponsored by CNN, ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, Marquette University Law School, Monmouth University, NBC News, The New York Times/Siena College, NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist College, Quinnipiac University, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

Biden and Trump were the only candidates to meet these requirements.

The debate will feature two commercial breaks, during which campaign staff are not permitted to interact with their candidate.

Both candidates have agreed to stand at identical podiums, with their positions determined by a coin flip. Microphones will be muted except for the candidate who has the floor to speak.

No props or pre-written notes will be allowed on stage, but candidates will be provided with a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water.