Biden And Trump Clash in First 2024 Presidential Debate Under CNN Moderation.

By Timibra Ken-Peretei

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump engaged in a spirited debate Thursday night in Atlanta, marking the kickoff of the 2024 general election with a closely contested matchup.

The debate commenced at 9 p.m. ET, lasting 90 minutes without a studio audience and featuring two commercial breaks. Unlike traditional debates organized by the debate commission, this event was hosted by CNN and moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. New rules included muting each candidate’s microphone while the other spoke.

Jake Tapper outlined the moderators’ role at the outset: “Our responsibility tonight is to facilitate a substantive debate between the two candidates,” he stated.

During the debate, Tapper and Bash largely refrained from fact-checking or extensive follow-ups, adhering to allotted times and transitioning between topics. President Biden faced challenges with this format, whereas Trump frequently diverged into broader commentary and accusations unrelated to the questions posed.

Instances of contentious remarks or inaccuracies were met with muted microphones and a swift transition to the next topic.

Towards the end of the debate, Dana Bash pressed Trump multiple times on whether he would accept the outcome of the upcoming November election, a question he had previously declined to commit to in the 2020 election cycle. Trump did not unequivocally pledge to accept the results of the 2024 election.

David Chalian, CNN’s political director, clarified before the debate that the moderators’ role did not include fact-checking. “They are here to facilitate a direct exchange between Trump and Biden,” Chalian affirmed.