An hour-and-a-half debate without an audience and disable microphones to enforce speaking times: CNN, which will organize it, announced the rules for the first election debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, on June 27, on Saturday.
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The duel between the main candidates in the US presidential elections will take place in the city of Atlanta, in the southeastern state of Georgia, at a much earlier date than usual.
Since its announcement last May, the channel had indicated that the exchange would take place without an audience, which is the formula preferred by Joe Biden.
It announced on Saturday that the candidates' campaign teams had accepted a series of other provisions, including the use of identical podiums and disableable microphones.
“Microphones will be muted for the duration of the debate, except for the candidate who will speak in turn,” CNN specifies, which adds that the presenters, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, “will use all the tools at their disposal.” To ensure respect for time and ensure a civilized discussion.
The channel also notes that the 90-minute debate will be interrupted by two commercial periods and campaign teams will not be able to interact with the candidates during these two commercial periods.
Pre-written notes will also be banned on set, but “candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a water bottle.”
The Democratic president and his Republican predecessor agreed to hold the debate twice before the presidential elections on November 5, June 27, and September 10. The second debate will be organized by ABC.
“He says he wants to debate me again. In that case, make me laugh, dude. I'll even do it twice,” Joe Biden fired off in mid-May in an offensive video message.
Donald Trump, who had been calling for a televised duel for a long time, immediately took up the challenge: “Tell me when, I'll be there. Let's fight!!!”
