Tonight, Joe Biden and Donald Trump will face off in Atlanta, Georgia, marking the first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign. With just under five months until the November 5 election, both candidates, representing the Democratic and Republican parties respectively, are in a tight race, according to recent polls.
This debate, hosted by CNN, is crucial, requiring candidates to meet strict criteria: appearing on enough state ballots to meet the Electoral College threshold and garnering at least 15% support in four national polls. The event kicks off at 9 PM local time (01:00 GMT) at CNN’s Atlanta studios and will span 90 minutes, interspersed with two commercial breaks.
Key issues expected to dominate the discussion include the US economy, immigration policies, public safety, and reproductive rights—matters of significant concern for American voters. Foreign policy will also be in focus, with candidates likely to address topics such as Israel’s conflict in Gaza, support for Ukraine, and US-China relations.
Moreover, the state of US democratic institutions is expected to feature prominently, given Biden’s accusations against Trump for undermining democracy, citing the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Biden may also raise Trump’s recent legal troubles, including a conviction in a New York hush-money case, marking him as the first former US president to be convicted of a crime.
Stay tuned for updates on what promises to be a pivotal debate shaping the course of the upcoming presidential election.