President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are making final preparations for CNN’s debate in Atlanta at 9 p.m. ET, their first showdown of the 2024 campaign.
It’ll also be the first time a president and former president have ever debated. Watch the debate live on this page, alongside updates on key moments and fact checks from our reporters. Sigue la cobertura en español.
High-stakes moment: With less than five months until the election, the stakes are high as the candidates make their pitch to voters on key issues such as immigration and the economy. Read up on campaign promises from both Biden and Trump.
Debate rules: Microphones will be muted except for the candidate who is speaking. No props or pre-written notes will be allowed. Candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water. Read more about the agreed parameters here.
Biden has the best fundraising hour of his campaign ahead of the debate, official says
From CNN’s Betsy Klein
President Joe Biden had the best fundraising hour of his entire campaign from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, a Biden campaign official tells CNN. The campaign did not immediately provide a dollar figure.
It comes as the campaign has been blitzing supporters with email and text fundraising appeals, seeking to bolster the war chest as the fundraising advantage narrows.
“President Biden is debating Donald Trump in just a few hours. We’re counting on you to tune in and, if you’re able to, make a contribution to this campaign,” an email from Vice President Kamala Harris deployed in the 6 p.m. hour said.
The past hour broke a record that was set just before – in the 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. hour – signaling that Thursday will be a big coup for Biden’s coffers. Before that, the campaign hauled in record cash during the president’s State of the Union address.
CNN
