Presidential debate 2024 LIVE updates — Donald Trump and Joe Biden face off tonight as new rules revealed – how to watch

Both campaigns were unopposed to include WH correspondents in studio

“A pool reporter is present to provide context and insight by direct observation and not through the lens of the television production,” O’Donnell added in her statement, per the New York Post.

“A pool reporter is an independent observer whose duties are separate from the production of the debate as a news event. The pool reporter works on behalf of the entire White House press corps. Print pool reports are an important part of the historical record.”

“The Biden campaign told WHCA it supports our request. The Trump campaign told WHCA it would not oppose the inclusion of the White House pool reporter.

“Tonight’s debate will have no audience present and includes format rules that can silence candidates’ microphones.

"A pool reporter is there to observe what is said and done when microphones are off or when either candidate is not seen on camera but may speak, gesture, move, or engage in some way," O'Donnell said.

CNN 'rejected requests' for WH travel pool to enter debate studio

White House Correspondents’ Association President Kelly O’Donnell of NBC released a statement regarding the exclusion of WH correspondents from the debate studio.

"WHCA is deeply concerned that CNN has rejected our repeated requests to include the White House travel pool inside the studio," O'Donnell said, per the New York Post.

“Through conversations and advocacy, we urged CNN to grant access to at least one print pool reporter for the duration of the debate. WHCA has been informed that one print reporter will be permitted to enter the studio during a commercial break to briefly observe the setting. That is not sufficient in our view and diminishes a core principle of presidential coverage.

“The White House pool has a duty to document, report and witness the president’s events and his movements on behalf of the American people,” O’Donnell said.

“The pool is there for the ‘what ifs?’ in a world where the unexpected does happen.”

White House slams CNN for banning outside press from debate

In a dramatic last-minute plea, the White House Correspondents’ Association condemned CNN's decision to restrict access to the evening's first presidential debate of 2024, the New York Post reported.

Unlike past showdowns, this debate between President Biden and former President Trump will have no audience, with microphones muted when a speaker's time is up.

As a result, off-mic remarks will go unheard, and coverage will be limited to CNN's cameras.

Despite both campaigns agreeing to allow the daily White House press pool to observe, CNN reportedly refused.

Consequently, non-CNN journalists have been relegated to a separate building.

Biden abortion rights ad to be aired during debate

During tonight's presidential debate, the Biden campaign plans to air a commercial break ad centered on abortion rights, a campaign official confirmed.

This move aims to highlight President Joe Biden's stance on reproductive rights in contrast to former President Donald Trump.

In light of the Supreme Court's recent decision to reject an appeal against Idaho's stringent abortion ban, the campaign has released a new TV spot.

This ad features Dr. Lauren Miller, an obstetrician who left Idaho due to fears of criminal charges under the ban.

“These laws are truly barbaric. They are putting us back decades, if not centuries,” Dr. Lauren Miller says in the ad, per CNN.

“Donald Trump did this. He put women’s lives in danger.”

Earliest debate ever

This debate will serve as the earliest ever in any presidential race.

It comes 89 days ahead of any other debate in the country's history.

The showdown is taking place even before Donald Trump and Joe Biden have even officially accepted their party's nominations.

An expert weighs in

Trump could have the last word

The new rules agreed that the candidates will be placed at podiums eight feet apart tonight.

A coin flip last Friday decided that Joe Biden will take the podium to the right.

The candidates will jump right into questions with no opening statements.

Donald Trump will have the opportunity to have the last words of the night in closing statements.

Trump will have the last word

The new rules agreed that the candidates will be placed at podiums eight feet apart tonight.

A coin flip last Friday decided that Joe Biden will take the podium to the right.

The candidates will jump right into questions with no opening statements.

Donald Trump will have the opportunity to have the last words of the night in closing statements.

Trump will have the last word

The new rules agreed that the candidates will be placed at podiums eight feet apart tonight.

A coin flip last Friday decided that Joe Biden will take the podium to the right.

The candidates will jump right into questions with no opening statements.

Donald Trump will have the opportunity to have the last words of the night in closing statements.

Trump's mic to be turned off

In May, Donald Trump and Joe Biden both agreed to a slew of new unprecedented rules never seen in a presidential debate before.

After a question is asked, the candidate up first will have two minutes to answer.

The second candidate will then have one minute to respond, with another minute then added for the first candidate to give a rebuttal to the second's response, with the order flipping on the next question.

There will also be no live audience present for the debate, something Biden had pushed for heavily, and microphones will be turned off unless it is that candidate's turn to speak due to last debate's issues with Trump constantly interrupting Biden.

Once their time is up, the speaker's mic will be turned off and the other candidate's microphone will then be turned on so they can speak without the other cutting into their time.

Donald Trump Jr already slammed debate

Donald Trump Jr. has already slammed tonight's debate between his father and Joe Biden as "manipulated" on X.

"Live TV has a seven second delay," he wrote in a since-deleted post.

"Why on earth would CNN need a 1-2 MINUTE delay unless they were planning a manipulating tonight’s debate?

"Same with Biden refusing to take a drug test. If he wasn’t jacked up on all sorts of drugs, why wouldn’t he submit to such an easy test?" he concluded.

CNN anchors to host the debate

For the first time in over 40 years, instead of the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates putting the show together, the debate will be hosted by CNN, with anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderating.

In 2020, both Tapper and Bash called the debate between the pair a "sh*tshow."

Everything to know before the debate

Commercial breaks included

For the first time, tonight's debate will include commercial breaks.

The two 90-second breaks will serve as a resting period for the candidates, during which their campaign staff may not interact with either candidate.

What to expect from Trump in the next months