President Joe Biden won the coin toss to secure a podium position on the right side of the stage during the CNN debate next week, but by doing so gave Donald Trump the final closing statement of the 90-minute matchup.
According to CNN, the coin landed on tails — the side chosen by the Biden campaign. The team then got to choose between podium placement or the order of closing arguments, picking to have Biden be on the right side of television and other screens but deliver his closing statement first.
Trump’s podium will be on the left side, and will have the last word by delivering his closing statement after Biden.
The 90-minute CNN debate, starting at 9 p.m. ET, will take place on June 27 in Atlanta. It is the first of two debates between Biden and Trump, the second taking place on Sept. 10 and hosted by ABC News.
The CNN debate is being simulcast on ABC and ABC News Live with pre-coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET on the network and 7 p.m ET on ABCNL.
Earlier this week, other rules were announced by CNN such as muting the candidates’ microphone unless it is their turn to speak and allowing no props, only pen, paper and a bottle of water.
There will be no opening statements, two commercial breaks and no studio audience.
Biden and Trump will be given two minutes to answer questions posed by moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, followed by one minute each to respond and rebut. There will be a red light flashing to indicate to candidates they have five seconds remaining of their allotted time. When their time is over, the light will turn solid red.
Joe Biden speaks, as President Donald Trump, left, listens during the U.S. presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, Oct. 22, 2020.
Morry Gash/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
With exactly a week to go until the debate, both campaigns are beginning to prepare.
President Biden will huddle at Camp David with former chief of staff Ron Klain and other longtime advisers and aides.
Trump is holding policy meetings with advisers and congressional allies on issues like immigration, the economy and democracy. He’ll also campaign in Philadelphia over the weekend and attend fundraisers next week.
Biden and Trump will be the only candidates on stage after the qualification window closed at midnight, CNN said.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., running as an independent, fell short of meeting the network’s polling and ballot access requirements. He called his exclusion from the stage “undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly.”
ABC News’ Isabella Murray and Will McDuffie contributed to this report.
The upcoming CNN debate between Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and incumbent President Donald Trump has garnered significant attention, not only for the issues that will be discussed but also for the strategic decisions being made by both campaigns. One such decision that has recently been announced is the podium placement for the debate, with Biden’s campaign selecting to have their candidate speak first, while Trump will speak last.
This decision may seem like a minor detail, but in the world of political debates, every aspect is carefully considered and can have an impact on how the candidates are perceived by viewers. By speaking first, Biden will have the opportunity to set the tone for the debate and make his case to the American people before Trump has a chance to respond. This could give him an advantage in terms of shaping the narrative of the debate and controlling the conversation.
On the other hand, Trump speaking last could also work to his advantage. By going last, he will have the final word on each topic discussed, which could leave a lasting impression on viewers. Additionally, speaking last allows Trump to respond directly to any attacks or criticisms made by Biden during the debate, giving him the opportunity to defend himself and counter any arguments made against him.
Overall, the podium placement for the CNN debate is just one of many strategic decisions being made by both campaigns as they prepare for what is sure to be a highly anticipated and closely watched event. The American people will be tuning in to see how both candidates perform under pressure and how they handle the tough questions that are sure to come their way. With just a few weeks left until Election Day, every move made by the candidates could have a significant impact on the outcome of the race.
