The stage is set for a historic presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The June 27 debate on CNN will be full of firsts, with the potential to reshape the presidential race. Never before in the modern era have two presumptive nominees met on the debate stage so early in the general election season. Never before have two White House contenders faced off at such advanced ages, with widespread questions about their readiness.
Biden’s Overly Intensive Preparations
President Biden has begun an intense period of private preparations at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. His team is aware that he cannot afford an underwhelming performance when he faces Trump for 90 minutes on live television. Biden’s team is expecting aggressive attacks on his physical and mental strength, his record on the economy and immigration, and even his family.
Biden’s former chief of staff, Ron Klain, is leading the preparations. Klain, who has worked with Democratic candidates in nearly every presidential race over the past three decades, is also the party’s most seasoned debate coach. Bruce Reed, another longtime aide who currently serves as Biden’s deputy chief of staff, is sifting through reams of material and hours of prior Trump appearances to inform the practice sessions. Biden’s personal lawyer, Bob Bauer, is also expected to participate in mock debate sessions.
Trump’s Informal Prep Process
Trump, on the other hand, will stay on the campaign trail before going to his Florida estate next week for two days of private meetings as part of an informal prep process. His allies are pushing him to stay focused on his governing plans but expect him to be tested by pointed questions about his unrelenting focus on election fraud, his role in the erosion of abortion rights, and his unprecedented legal baggage.
Trump has participated in roughly a dozen of these private meetings, which his campaign has dubbed as informal ‘policy discussions.‘ The subjects of these meetings have ranged from sharpening his messaging on the economy, the border, and crime to his views on abortion, the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and how to best frame his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of business fraud.
Ground Rules for the Debate
The ground rules for the June 27 debate are unusual. The candidates agreed to meet at a CNN studio in Atlanta with no audience. Each candidate’s microphone will be muted, except when it’s his turn to speak. No props or prewritten notes will be allowed onstage. The candidates will be given only a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water. There will be no opening statements. A coin flip determined that Biden would stand at the podium to the viewer’s right, while Trump would deliver the final closing statement.
High Stakes and Expectations
The debate will be full of high stakes and expectations. Biden’s aides have dismissed concerns about his age and mental readiness. They’re fighting against what they allege is deceptive editing of video clips to suggest he’s confused. But while some Democrats project confidence, Biden’s allies also acknowledge that he may have more to lose given his struggle to generate momentum amid signs of weakness within his political coalition.
Trump, on the other hand, has set an extraordinarily low bar by suggesting for months that Biden is contending with serious physical limitations that make it difficult for him to stand for 90 minutes or string together two sentences. “It’s like the mirror test. Put a mirror under Biden’s nose, and if it fogs it up, he wins, right? That’s about what the threshold is for Biden,” Republican strategist and Trump ally David Urban said with a laugh. “Can Biden demonstrate that he’s mentally nimble? That’s the big question.”
The Debate’s Potential Impact
The debate could have a significant impact on the presidential race. It will be a chance for both candidates to showcase their policies and personalities to a national audience. The debate could also set the tone for the rest of the campaign season.
In the end, the outcome of the debate will depend on how well each candidate performs under pressure. Will Biden be able to hold his own against Trump’s aggressive attacks? Will Trump be able to effectively communicate his governing plans and address the legal issues surrounding him? The world will be watching to find out.
