CNN announced on Wednesday that they would be hosting the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in late June in Georgia. The debate will take place in CNN's Atlanta studios with no audience present to allow the candidates to maximize their time on stage. Details about moderators and other specifics will be announced at a later date.
In order to participate in the debate, candidates must meet certain qualifications including appearing on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold and receiving at least 15% in four separate national polls that meet CNN's standards. The polling window to determine eligibility began on March 13 and will close seven days before the debate.
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may have a chance to participate in the debate if he meets the eligibility requirements. Kennedy has been working to get on the ballot in all 50 states and has reached double-digit support in some polls. However, his inclusion in the debate would go against Biden's campaign's desire for a one-on-one contest with Trump.
Trump's team has accepted CNN's debate invitation and proposed two additional debates in July and August to allow voters to have maximum exposure to the candidates' records and visions. Biden's campaign has not yet responded to the counter-offer but the president has accepted CNN's plan for the first debate.
Both candidates have also accepted an invitation to participate in a second debate hosted by ABC News on Tuesday, September 10. The details of this debate have yet to be announced. Overall, the upcoming debates between Biden and Trump promise to be important opportunities for voters to hear directly from the candidates on key issues facing the country.