Trump and Biden set to face off in first presidential debate as CNN denies delay: Live updates
Joe Biden and Donald Trump will square off in CNN debate moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash at 9pm ET
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Donald Trump and Joe Biden are due to face each other on the debate stage in Atlanta, Georgia, in just under half an hour in their first head-to-head of the 2024 election cycle.
The encounter will take place at 9pm ET and be broadcast live from CNN’s studios, with the network’s anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash serving as moderators.
The debate promises to be every bit as bad-tempered as their two face-offs in the run-up to the Covid-blighted 2020 election and the Republican has wasted no time in getting his blows in early, sneering on Wednesday that the president should be thrilled there will be no fact-checkers present because he is a “lying machine”.
This comes as the Supreme Court issued four major rulings, but left the question of Trump’s immunity from prosecution in his federal election interference case for a future date.
Meanwhile, new polling shows Trump up by just five points in a head-to-head matchup with Biden among likely voters in Texas. Trump received 48 percent to Biden’s 43 percent in the poll conducted between 11 and 20 June by the University of Texas at Tyler.
Truth Social: Trump roasts Biden with spoof ad for ‘Bidenica’ sleep medication
Trump, something of an expert in WWE-style trash talking, has inevitably been busy cooking up jokey anti-Biden content overnight, including an ad for a new sedative called “Bidenica”.
He also posted this far darker and more cynical attack ad on the president’s “character”, blaming him for illegal immigration at the southern border and various “migrant crime” episodes.
Biden’s equivalent offering is, naturally, more gentle in tone.
Why Trump has an advantage over Biden in the first debate
The Republican may see a bump in the polls after tonight’s debate because of a long-running trend: incumbents tend to do worse in the first debate of every presidential election season.
Presidential debate historian Alan Schroeder told NBC News that a president’s life exists in a “protected bubble” and the first debate of the cycle serves to take them outside of that bubble and confront them with a pumped up opponent itching for a showdown.
Gustaf Kilander has more.
Why Trump has an advantage over Biden in their first debate of 2024 election season
Incumbents tend to do worse in the first debate of the presidential election season as they step out of their ‘protected bubble’
How Biden and Trump insiders say their candidates have been preparing
White House and Republican advisers have been telling Andrew Feinberg about Biden’s intense, “punchy” preparation process at Camp David in Maryland this week — and how Trump doesn’t need to prepare because he has “elite stamina”.
How Biden and Trump insiders say they are preparing for the debate
White House and Republican advisers tell Andrew Feinberg about Biden’s intense, ‘punchy’ preparation process at Camp David — and how Trump doesn’t need to prepare much because of his ‘elite stamina’
Hello and welcome!
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live build-up to what promises to be a pivotal day in this year’s US presidential election.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden are due to face each on the debate stage in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday evening in their first head-to-head of the 2024 election cycle.
The encounter will take place at 9pm ET and be broadcast live from CNN’s studios, with the network’s anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash serving as moderators.
The debate promises to be every bit as bad-tempered as their two face-offs in the run-up to the Covid-blighted 2020 election and the Republican has wasted no time in getting his blows in early, sneering on Wednesday that the president should be thrilled there will be no fact-checkers present because he is a “lying machine”.
Trump and his conservative media allies have also alleged in advance that the debate will not be a fair fight, arguing without evidence that the moderators will be biased and that Biden will be using performance-enhancing medication.
Sources close to the billionaire businessman have further hinted he could finally name his running mate ahead of the showdown.
Independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, who did not meet the qualification criteria, will meanwhile be interviewed by television personality Dr Phil on his Merit Street Media platform.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments