Biden, Trump qualify for debate as window closes: CNN

President Biden and former President Trump officially qualified for the first presidential debate of 2024 as the deadline to meet the requirements ended Thursday, according to CNN.

CNN is slated to host the first debate June 27, with Dana Bash and Jake Tapper selected as the moderators. Biden and Trump were the only candidates to qualify for the debate, which marks the first between a sitting and former president, per the outlet.

Candidates were required to garner at least 15 percent of support in four national polls and had to be viable on enough state ballots to earn the 270 delegates needed to be elected to the White House. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has faced a tough battle to reach the threshold, was not expected to clinch a spot on the debate stage.

Biden and Trump, the presumptive nominees of their respective parties, are even closer now to a likely rematch of the 2020 election. The debates in the last presidential election cycle between the two were marked by name-calling, interruptions and clashes with the moderators.

Now, the two of them are returning to the debate stage next week with set rules announced by CNN and agreed to by both candidates.

Their microphones will be muted throughout the debate except when it’s that candidate’s turn to speak. The moderators will also be able to “use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion,” per the rules.

There also will be no studio audience, unlike debates in the past.

Biden and Trump agreed last month to two debates. In a survey released after the debates were announced, most Americans — 72 percent — said they were likely to tune in. About 27 percent said they would not, the Quinnipiac poll found.

The second debate will be hosted by ABC on Sept. 10.