CNN Presidential Debate: Donald Trump and Joe Biden arrive in Georgia ahead of inaugural showdown

Newsom says Trump 'unhinged,' 'delusional' ahead of debate

Ahead of the CNN Presidential Debate on Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called former President Donald Trump is "unhinged" and "delusional."

"He's unhinged, he's delusional," Newsom told reporters from the debate spin room.

Newsom also said he was "worried" about Trump's "mental capacity" and "ability to control himself."

The governor's remarks came ahead of Trump's first debate of the 2024 election cycle against President Biden in Atlanta, Georgia.

As for Biden's performance on the debate stage tonight, Newsom said he believes Americans are "going to see a strong and vigorous president, defending a strong and vigorous record."

The California Democrat also suggested that Biden will lay out a "compelling vision for the future."

Posted by Kyle Morris Share People will watch the debate for 'the spectacular wreck': Dem state senator

People will tune into the CNN Presidential Debate to watch "the spectacular wreck," according to a Democratic South Carolina state senator .

"Most people will be watching this debate tonight for the same reason people here go to NASCAR races. They're going to watch for the spectacular wreck,"Democratic state Sen. Dick Harpootlian said on Fox News.

Harpootlian also serves on President Biden's national finance committee.

"This is going to be blood sport tonight, and that's why people are watching. ... And by the way, I like our odds, because, you know, Donald Trump at a NASCAR race is obviously going to smash into the wall several times. As erratic as he is. We're going to hear about sharks, we're going to hear about electric cars. We're going to hear about all kinds of stuff that's not relevant to what people really want to hear about," he added.

Posted by Emma Colton Share Who is Doug Burgum? Governor of North Dakota and potential VP pick for Donald Trump

Doug Burgum is the 33rd governor of North Dakota and a potential vice presidential candidate for former President Donald Trump in his 2024 campaign for the White House.

Burgum is a former business owner who saw success when he grew his small business, Great Plains Software, into a $1 billion company, which was later acquired by Microsoft.

In 2016, Burgum won a gubernatorial general election by a landslide when he beat Republican Jack Dalrymple in the Peace Garden State.

Last year in June, Burgum announced his bid for the 2024 presidential election and in December he released a video suspending his campaign . He said he and his wife "are deeply grateful for each and every person who supported us with their ideas, prayers, advocacy, encouragement and enthusiasm. Kathryn and I will always remain committed to fighting for the people who make our nation so exceptional."

In mid-January, Burgum threw his support behind Trump stating, "Today, I am here to do something that none of the other presidential primary candidates have done and that's endorse Donald J. Trump for the President of the United States of America."

Trump has yet to announce his VP pick but told reporters over the weekend he knows who he will choose and included that the person will be in attendance in Atlanta, Georgia, tonight.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share Best clashes from Trump and Biden's 2020 debates

Tempers flared several times between then President Trump and candidate Biden in the 2020 debate matchups between the two leaders.

"'Will you shut up, man?'" Biden told Trump during their first debate in September 2020 in a tense debate where the two routinely talked over each other.

"This is so un-presidential," he added.

"He said he went to Delaware State, but you forgot the name of your college. You didn't go to Delaware State," Trump told Biden as the two debated over their intelligence in the first debate. "He graduated the lowest or almost the lowest in your class. Don't ever use the word 'smart' with me."

"Proud boys: stand back and stand by," Trump famously said during a Fox News Debate before blaming Biden for the political violence in America . "But I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem."

"We're about to go into a dark winter... but he has no clear plan," Biden said about Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic in a debate between the two in October 2020.

Experts expect another contentious debate on Thursday night although debate rules have changed to where the two leaders will have their mics muted while the other is speaking in an attempt to limit interruptions.

Posted by Andrew Mark Miller Share Stock market could pump after Trump-Biden showdown: D.R. Barton

The stock market could tick up after the CNN Presidential Debate Thursday evening, when former President Donald Trump and President Biden face-off on stage.

"Historically, debates don't seem to make that much difference to the market, you know, the day after, but do you think this one might be different?" Fox Business host Stuart Varney asked.

"I think it might be, Stuart. I think it might solidify some things. People out there are already thinking about either candidate, and they can vote their minds, consciences and hearts clearly after tonight," Woodshaw Financial Group principal D.R. Barton said Thursday on Fox Business.

"We've looked back at the data - all the way back to ... Nixon-Kennedy debates, and looked at what happened one day, five days, 10 days after. You're right, not much difference. After 10 days, a little bit of a pop. But the day after about a 58% chance the market being up," he added.

Posted by Emma Colton Share Who is Tim Scott? South Carolina Republican Senator and GOP contender for Trump's VP pick

South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott is a former GOP presidential contender for the 2024 election. Scott announced his bid to run for president last year in May and in November, he announced his exit from the race.

"I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they're telling me, 'Not now, Tim,'" Scott said on Fox News' "Sunday Night in America" with Trey Gowdy.

It wasn't until January that Scott endorses former President Donald Trump in his 2024 presidential campaign.

"The best way for us to get rid of Joe Biden as our president is to unite our party now behind Donald Trump," Scott said at a Trump rally in Concord, New Hampshire. The following day, Scott proposed to his girlfriend, Mindy Noce, in Kiawah Island, South Carolina .

Scott has served in the Senate since 2013 and reported nearly $22 million cash on hand at the end of last year — funds left over from the senator's convincing 25-point re-election victory in November in reliably red South Carolina.

Scott is considered a top ally and GOP contender of Trump.

Political analysts say that Scott, as a Black evangelical, could help the former president make a sizable dent in President Biden's lead with minority voters. Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share Trump says his VP choice will be attending the CNN Presidential Debate

Fox News' Aishah Hasnie reported ahead of Thursday's CNN Presidential Debate that all eyes are going to be on the spin room floor for former President Trump's possible VP pick considering the president revealed this week his mystery selection would be attending the debate in support of him.

"Everyone is going to be on the lookout for who is here to support the former president, and that's because Trump has said previously that his VP choice, his pick, will be here in Atlanta at the debate tonight, although I don't know how much that helps us in our search for this VP candidate if every single person on that short list is here tonight," Hasnie told Fox News' Brett Baier.

Those believed to be on the shortlist who will be in Atlanta for the debate or the nearby watch party include Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Trump has suggested he will announce his pick at the Republican National Convention in July.

Posted by Brandon Gillespie Share Rep. Donalds expresses concern over why Biden needed 8 days to prep for debate

Republican Florida Rep. Byron Donalds expressed concern over President Biden taking eight days to prepare for the CNN Presidential Debate.

"I think you have a lot of my colleagues who have also said that we expect [Biden] to come out like he's come out at the State of the Union, so he'll be good for about 90 minutes or so. But I think the bigger issue is, I mean, why did it take eight days to do this?" Donalds said from the debate spin room Thursday.

"I've not remembered any modern president who took eight days away to just prepare for debates, that's concerning to me as an American. Because the world, the issues don't stop when you're in that job. And so to be in Camp David hunkered down for eight days is a little concerning to me. I think the bigger thing—this is really for all of you guys here."

"When's the last time Joe Biden actually had a press conference where he just took questions ad-lib from reporters, not knowing the script, not knowing the names, not knowing who was going to ask what, would he even do this kind of a gaggle with you guys right now? He would not. I think when it comes to Donald Trump, he's focused on the American people. He has an agenda for our country that's going to make our country great," Donalds added.

Posted by Emma Colton Share What are the CNN presidential debate candidates' stances on anti semitism on college campuses?

Trump on campus unrest

Former President Donald Trump has been a frequent critic of the anti-Israel demonstrations that recently swept U.S. college campuses , arguing the demonstrators are "radical-left lunatics, and they've got to be stopped."

"Remove the encampments immediately. Vanquish the radicals, and take back our campuses for all of the normal students who want a safe place for which to learn," Trump said at a Wisconsin rally. "The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed, and Biden's nowhere to be found."

Biden on campus unrest

President Biden, meanwhile, has taken a softer stance on the issue, condemning any violence during the demonstrations while stressing the value of the demonstrators' First Amendment rights.

"We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent. The American people are heard, the president said during a speech last month. "In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues."

Posted by Michael Lee Share Journalists call out CNN for limiting in-person press access to the debate: 'Deeply concerned'

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) called out CNN on Thursday for limiting in-person press pool access to the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta.

"WHCA is deeply concerned that CNN has rejected our repeated requests to include the White House travel pool inside the studio. Through conversations and advocacy, we urged CNN to grant access to at least one print pool reporter for the duration of the debate," WHCA president Kelly O'Donnell wrote in a statement on Thursday.

Former President Trump and President Biden will face off Thursday at 9PM in the first debate, which will be simulcast on the Fox News Channel, between the two candidates in the 2024 cycle.

"Tonight's debate will have no audience present and includes format rules that can silence candidates' microphones. We don't know how this will play out in real time. 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," the WHCA president's statement continued.

Posted by Emma Colton Share Who is JD Vance? Senator from Ohio and possible Republican vice presidential pick

James David "J.D." Vance is an author and venture capitalist serving as a junior Republican senator from Ohio since 2023.

Graduating from Yale Law School in 2013, Vance worked for Peter Thiel's firm, Mithril Capital, as a venture capitalist. In 2016, Vance published his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis," to critical acclaim and reception. The memoir was on The New York Times' Bestseller List for two years in a row and The Washington Post dubbed Vance the "voice of the rustbelt."

In 2021, Vance expressed interest in running for the Ohio Senate seat vacated by Rob Portman. After receiving a $10 million PAC donation from Thiel, Vance launched an exploratory committee and, shortly after, announced his candidacy. Vance won his primary handedly and proceeded to beat his Democratic opponent, Tim Ryan, and he began his tenure as a senator in 2023.

Vance has received increased attention in recent years as a potential candidate for former President Donald Trump's second vice president. Vance was initially intensely critical of Trump in 2016, describing him as "America's Hitler" before changing his tune and becoming one of Trump's fiercest defenders during his Senate tenure. Vance has been a major proponent of the "Make America Great Again" movement and has echoed Trump's claims of election fraud in 2020.

Posted by Matteo Cina Share Could Biden be 'over-prepared' ahead of tonight's debate?

Judge Jeanine Pirro is warning that President Biden could be over-prepared ahead of tonight's CNN presidential debate, after the president has been locked in preparation for days.

Pirro said on "The Five" that Biden has more at stake than former President Donald Trump, because he is behind in many polls, but warned that there is a risk of having prepared too much.

"The truth is that Joe Biden risks being overprepared," she said.

"You got 16 people coming at you, who is in your head right now. You're so overprepared that when you're there, it's a split moment, the camera's on you, you've got to be able to respond instinctively."

The two will face off this evening in what will be the first presidential debate of this election cycle.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share Trump vs. Biden: Where the presidential candidates stand on taxes

When President Biden and former President Donald Trump meet on the debate stage Thursday evening for the first time in four years, both candidates are expected to tout their vision for tax policy in coming years.

The coming election is particularly consequential because whichever party voters select to control the White House and Congress next year will determine the fate of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Enacted in 2017 by Republican lawmakers and Trump, the law drastically overhauled the nation's tax code, including reducing the top individual income tax bracket to 37% from 39.6% and nearly doubling the size of the standard deduction. However, those changes to the individual section of the tax code are poised to sunset in 2025, meaning that many taxpayers – including those who earn less than $400,000 – will face steeper levies if the law is not extended.

More than $3.4 trillion in individual income and estate tax cuts are set to expire next year if Congress does not act.

Posted by Emma Colton Share President Biden on pardoning son Hunter Biden after conviction

President Biden has said he is not going to issue a pardon to his son Hunter Biden , who has been convicted on federal firearms charges.

"I'm extremely proud of my son, Hunter . He has overcome an addiction. He has. He's one of the brightest, most decent men I know. And I am satisfied that I'm not going to do anything," he told reporters earlier this month. "I said I'd abide by the jury decision. I will do that, and I will not pardon him."

Directly following the guilty verdict, Biden reiterated that he would respect the decision. However, he noted that the case could go on, adding that he "will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal."

Hunter Biden is also facing several federal tax charges and is expected to face trial in September.

Some elections experts have predicted "political blowback" for Biden if he were to go back on his promise to respect the verdict and pardon his son.

Fox News Digital's Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.

Posted by Julia Johnson Share LARRY KUDLOW: Donald Trump knows an optimistic vision of growth is a winner

An optimistic vision of growth, prosperity and opportunity is always a winner and that's the subject of the riff. It seems like the entire liberal media are rooting for mudslinging and mudwrestling at tonight's CNN Presidential Debate, but voters completely disagree. They want issues and no one seems to be listening to former President Trump , who keeps telling people that successful policies will unify the country and, so, I'm going to buck the media tide and suggest while there's going to be some jabbing and counter punching in the 90-minute debate, Trump's overarching theme of success to build unity across the country will be on display at tonight's debate.

Biden can do what he's going do, but I think Mr. Trump will come out of this as the optimist. and optimists always win. Trump has a strong record of low inflation, significant growth, rising real wages for all working Americans, closing the border, cutting taxes, overturning an overregulated business sector, of course "drill, baby, drill," and seeking peace through strength in foreign affairs.

On every one of these issues, Mr. Biden has a very poor record. On every one of these issues, Mr. Trump's successful first term shows what can be done and gives him much to build on in a second term. I'd love to see Trump start early by asking Biden if he agrees on tax-exempt tipping for waitresses, golf caddies, uber drivers and the tens of millions in the gig economy.

Posted by Emma Colton Share Former President Donald Trump lands in Atlanta ahead of CNN Presidential Debate

Former President Donald Trump has landed in Atlanta, Georgia, ahead of the CNN Presidential Debate, where he will face off against President Biden.

The Trump War Room X account posted footage of Trump exiting his plane Thursday evening.

"!" the message on X reads.

The debate will kick off at 9 pm EST and last 90 minutes, including two commercial breaks.

Posted by Emma Colton Share Which US states are swing states?

Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, where the CNN Presidential Debate is being held, are understood to be swing states going into the 2024 presidential election in November.

Several of the battleground states have gone for both Trump and Biden in previous elections, including Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Georgia . The Trump campaign is making significant moves in some of those states that flipped in an effort to flip them back in 2024.

North Carolina is a state Trump has won twice, but the Democratic Party sees the close margin of those victories as an opportunity to turn the state blue. Similarly, Nevada has supported the Democratic candidate in each of Trump's elections, but Republicans and Trump's campaign see promise in close polls going into the election.

While each of the states has the potential to swing for one candidate or the other, a state like Nevada, which has voted against Trump twice, could be predisposed to opposing him again. By the same token, North Carolina could be considered an uphill battle for Biden to win.

Posted by Julia Johnson Share The many faces of Donald Trump from past presidential debates

Former President Trump and President Biden have spent weeks in preparation leading up to their center stage appearances tonight for the highly anticipated CNN Presidential Debate.

The debate is the first of the 2024 presidential election cycle to include both men, and millions of Americans across the country are seeking answers to questions about critical issues important to voters.

However, Americans are also awaiting viral moments brought on by both the remarks and facial expressions of each presidential candidate, especially as neither nominee is a stranger to social media virality.

A few times since Biden began his presidency, the incumbent has attracted hundreds of thousands of clicks for a number of speaking gaffes and a few falls.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share 'Biden's age' and 'Trump's mouth' concern voters in battleground states ahead of debate: report

Voters in multiple battleground states , including Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, voiced concerns about both former President Trump and President Biden in interviews that aired Thursday with CNN's John King.

"I just don't feel comfortable with Biden's age, and I don't feel comfortable with Trump's mouth," Georgia voter Kim Cavaliere told King.

Biden and Trump are battling for dominance in key battleground states that will likely decide the 2024 presidential election as issues that inflame both parties — like the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war — further divide voters.

"I liked what happened in our economy when Donald Trump was president," Iowa voter Chris Mudd told King. "I liked that 'America First' mindset."

"At this juncture, they both had four years, and I'm just eight years more frustrated than I was before," Arizona voter Ray Flores said of both Biden and Trump. "I wish we had a candidate that had more of a middle of life and middle of the road perspective."

"I'm very uncomfortable right now with either choice," Flores said.

"Everything here in Georgia is so expensive," Georgia voter Carey Fulks told CNN. "I can only afford so much with whatever job I find."

This is an excerpt of an by Fox News' Jeffrey Clark.

Posted by Kyle Morris Share Jill Biden says POTUS is 'ready to go' ahead of debate

First Lady Jill Bide n on Thursday declared that her husband is "ready to go" ahead of tonight's CNN presidential debate.

I know Joe is ready to go. He's prepared. He's confident. You've all seen him debate. You know what a great debater he is. And good is on his side," she said in Atlanta.

Biden will face off with former President Donald Trump on Thursday evening in Atlanta in the first presidential debate of the year.

The Biden campaign has been telling voters they have a choice to defend U.S. democracy when they vote in November, and the First Lady emphasized that point to supporters.

"There's two clear choices in this election," she said.

"We can't stop now. We can't get complacent. We got to keep working. We got to keep working harder than we've ever worked before. And I know you're all ready to do that," she told supporters.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share President Biden lands in Atlanta ahead of CNN Presidential Debate

President Biden landed in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday ahead of the CNN Presidential Debate, where he will face-off against former President Donald Trump.

Footage posted Thursday afternoon shows Biden exiting Air Force One.

Biden and Trump will take the debate stage at 9 pm EST. The debate will last 90 minutes, including two commercial breaks.

Posted by Emma Colton Share Who is Kristi Noem? Governor of South Dakota and potential VP pick for Donald Trump

Kristi Lynn Noem , a Republican, currently serves as the 33rd governor of South Dakota and is the first woman to serve in that position. First elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2006, she served until her election to South Dakota's at-large district in the House of Representatives in 2010. During her tenure, she completed her college education and was elected as the second female member of Republican leadership.

In 2018, Noem ran for governor of South Dakota, received former President Donald Trump's endorsement, and won the election by four percentage points. Her term went along relatively normally until the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic arrived on the scene.

Noem took a hardline stance against pandemic restrictions, earning continued praise from Trump and other members of the anti-lockdown movement. She was selected to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention and, ever since, has been considered a frontrunner for Trump's vice presidency.

Posted by Matteo Cina Share Biden, Trump should focus on talking about the future at tonight's debate: expert

Bob Barnett, who helped 10 campaigns with debate preparation weighed in with his thoughts about what to expect during tonight's CNN Presidential Debate between former President Donald Trump and President Biden.

Barnett told Fox News' Neil Cavuto that there are opportunities for both victory and defeat for both candidates. He noted that both have records to compare with each other since they have both served as president of the United States.

But ultimately he said he hopes to see discussion about the next four years.

"I hope what we'll see is they'll talk about the future, because elections are about the future and not the past, and I think the more that either candidate can talk about what they plan, the better off they are," he said.

He also said moderators will have to make "interesting choices" about how to allow the debate to proceed.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share Presidential debate: How much did the debt grow under Biden and Trump's terms?

The U.S. national debt has surged in recent years under the leadership of President Biden and former President Trump, who are set to face off on the debate stage on Thursday for the first time in this presidential election cycle.

A new report by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) examines the impact of policies implemented during the Biden and Trump administrations on the national debt, finding that each added trillions to the debt through a mix of partisan and bipartisan policies.

The report comes as the national debt held by the public relative to the size of the U.S. economy is set to reach a record high level during the next four-year presidential term.

The Trump and Biden administrations were confronted with the COVID pandemic and enacted legislation aimed at addressing its economic impact, in addition to other partisan legislative and regulatory actions.

They also both enacted significant bipartisan spending bills , given that each had their respective party hold narrow majorities during the first two years of their terms before the opposing party gained a narrow House majority in the second two years.

This is an excerpt from an by Fox Business' Eric Revell.

Posted by Kyle Morris Share What are the CNN Presidential Debate candidates' stances on student loan forgiveness?

Trump on student loans

Former President Donald Trump has slammed President Biden's attempts to forgive student loans , calling the plan "vile" during a rally in Wisconsin last week.

"He did that with the tuition and that didn't work out too well, he got rebuked," Trump said, referring to how the Supreme Court struck down Biden's original student loan forgiveness plan. "Then he did it again, it's going to get rebuked again, even more so, it's an even more vile attack, but he did that with tuition just to get publicity with the election."

Biden on student loans

Biden has made forgiving at least some student loans a priority throughout his presidency, though multiple attempts to do so have been hung up in the courts. His most recent bid, the SAVE plan, has run into similar issues, with parts of the initiative being blocked by a federal judge on Monday.

"We strongly disagree with today's rulings on our SAVE Plan and the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously defend the SAVE Plan," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement after the ruling.

Posted by Michael Lee Share Biden vs. Trump on judicial appointments

Former President Trump and President Biden have track records of rapidly filling the federal judiciary with judges that have the potential to reshape the judicial system in the coming years.

The Senate confirmed the 200th federal judge of President Joe Biden's tenure in May, about a month earlier than when Donald Trump hit that mark in his term, though Trump still holds the edge when it comes to the most impactful confirmations — those to the Supreme Court and the country's 13 appellate courts.

"Reaching 200 judges is a major milestone," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in May. "Simply put, our 200 judges comprise the most diverse slate of judicial nominations under any president in American history."

Biden has appointed more judges since hitting the 200 mark but it remains unclear whether he will surpass Trump's mark of 234 judge's before the year ends.

Associated Press contributed to this report

Posted by Andrew Mark Miller Share Who is Sen. Tom Cotton? Republican lawmaker in the running for Trump's VP pick

Sen. Tom Cotton , R-Ark., an Army veteran who has served in the Senate for nearly a decade, is on former President Donald Trump's shortlist for vice president.

Before jumping into the political scene, Cotton was an attorney, getting his law degree from Harvard Law School. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, Cotton enlisted in the Army where he would serve as an Infantry Officer for nearly five years.

Cotton was elected as a senator to Arkansas in 2015, currently serving on the Judiciary Committee, the Intelligence Committee, and the Armed Services Committee. In recent months, the Republican Senator has focused on the migrant crisis, protecting America's borders, combating antisemitism, and supporting Israel following the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

Cotton was reportedly considering jumping into the 2024 presidential race, but in 2022 announced he would not be running, citing "family" as "the only consideration."

"My boys are age 7 and 5. They're old enough to know that dad's gone and be sad about it, but not old enough to understand the purpose and why it all matters and why the sacrifice is worth it," Cotton said. "I am pretty sure Republican voters can find another nominee, but I know that my sons can't find another dad for the next two years."

Posted by Aubrie Spady Share Who is Byron Donalds? Florida Republican who could be Trump's VP pick

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., is a Republican congressman from Florida and rising GOP political figure, representing Florida's 19th Congressional District since 2016.

Donalds rose to prominence in the fall of 2023 after launching a bid for Speaker of the House after voting to oust then-Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Donalds received several votes from his fellow GOP members, but did not win the speakership.

The Florida Republican is a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, joining him on the campaign trial as he seeks re-election.

" Byron Donalds is an incredible guy. Incredible," Trump said during a recent campaign event in Detroit. "And I notice he happens to be on the list for potential vice presidents. Would anyone like to see him as a vice president? I notice your name is very high on the list, that's good. You should be on the list."

When asked by Fox News' Lawrence Jones if he has talked to Trump about being vice president, Donalds said "I'm going to keep that to myself."

Posted by Aubrie Spady Share CNN responds to concerns surrounding press access to debate

CNN responded to the White House press corps' accusation the network hosting tonight's presidential debate between President Biden and former President Donald Trump is limiting access to the debate hall.

"As proud members of the White House Correspondents Association, we respect the role the organization plays and their support for press freedom and access," CNN said in a statement. "CNN's Presidential Debate is being held without an audience in a CNN studio and is closed to press."

"The feed was made available to Washington Pool members , Washington Pool subscribers and CNN affiliates, and is also available to embed via CNN's YouTube channel without charge for digital outlets and is available on CNN.com. Following our traditional approach, CNN is providing access to the debate studio for a tight pool of photographers for the duration of the event and a larger group of photographers during a commercial break."

"In addition, CNN is providing access to the debate hall for the designated print pool reporter during the first commercial break to allow them to provide a pool report from inside the debate studio."

The White House Correspondents' Association said earlier that it had advocated for the inclusion of the press pool in the studio, and it appreciated actions CNN has taken - including providing a television feed to other networks and granting access to photographers.

"However, WHCA is deeply concerned that CNN has rejected our repeated requests to include the White House travel pool inside the studio," Kelly O'Donnell, president of the WHCA said.

O'Donnell said that WHCA has been informed that one print reporter will be allowed to enter during a commercial break to observe the setting. "That is not sufficient in our view and diminishes a core principle of presidential coverage."

Posted by Emma Colton Share What are Trump and Biden's stances on Israel and Hamas?

President Biden and former President Donald Trump enter the CNN Presidential debate with divergent views on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Trump on Israel and Hamas

Trump has in recent months taken aim at Biden for what he says is the president's softening stance on the U.S. alliance with Israel, accusing Biden last month of "taking the side of these terrorists, just like he has sided with the Radical Mobs taking over our college campuses." That comment came after Biden hinted at a possible halt to U.S. weapons shipments to Israel if the Jewish state did not stop its ground offensive.

Biden on Israel and Hamas

Biden, meanwhile, has tried to thread the needle between maintaining longtime support for the U.S. ally and growing dissatisfaction from within his own party on the country's handling of the current conflict.

While the president has maintained public support for Israel, he has also begun putting stipulations on U.S. assistance if Israel does not improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza .

Posted by Michael Lee Share Who is Marco Rubio? Florida Republican in the running for Trump's VP

Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla., is on former President Donald Trump's shortlist for vice president, but the Constitution could prevent the pair from running on a ticket together.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, served as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives before being elected as Florida's senator in 2010. The Republican senator launched his own presidential bid in 2016, running almost a years-long campaign before dropping out of the race following the Florida primary where he lost to then-presidential candidate Trump.

Trump, who used to call the Senator "Little Marco," named Rubio as one of the candidates being vetted for vice president. Most recently, Rubio was one of only three candidates in the pool that Trump's campaign initially requested documents amid the search.

While Rubio is reportedly being considered as Trump's running mate , this pick would face a roadblock under the 12th Amendment of the Constitution which states that the electors "shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves."

Posted by Aubrie Spady Share Trump family member to spin for Biden after debate

A member of the Trump family known to be no fan of her former president uncle is expected to join President Biden's campaign in the spin room following tonight's debate.

Mary Trump , a left-wing personality and frequent Trump critic whose public profile has benefited heavily from her criticism of him, released a statement prior to the debate in conjunction with the Biden campaign.

"For my whole life I have witnessed my uncle's narcissism and cruelty. His sense of inferiority has always driven his jealousy and his pathological need to dominate others and this is information that is crucially important for the American people to have in advance of the most important election of our lifetimes," she said.

"I'm in Atlanta tonight to remind everyone who Donald is as a person and how he would rule as a president because the stakes are far too high for us to get this wrong: We cannot afford to allow Donald Trump anywhere near the levers of power again."

She claimed Trump could not be trusted, and that "his last administration was simply a warm-up for much worse to come just as January 6th was a dress rehearsal for a man who will stop at nothing to ascend, once again, to this country's highest office."

She also claimed Trump was "desperate for power," and the he was "obsessed with regaining it purely for his own benefit."

"I am not alone in this assessment. People in his own inner circle are warning us that he is unfit for office. Think about the countless former aides who have been brave enough to recount their stories," she said.

"They describe a man so deeply unhinged, so insecure that he would do anything – including inciting a violent mob to storm our nation's Capitol. If the worst happens and Donald gets back into the White House, none of us who ever criticized him will be safe because revenge and retribution are what he traffics in. I'm here tonight because only President Biden can stop Donald and save our country," she added.

Posted by Brandon Gillespie Share Who is Elise Stefanik? Rep. in NY who rose to potential VP pick for former President Trump

Elise Stefanik is currently serving as a representative for New York's 21st congressional district and is the fourth ranking House Republican. Stefanik started in the Bush Administration on his Domestic Policy Council before transferring to the White House chief of staff's staff.

In 2012, Stefanik helped write the Republican platform and handled then-Rep. Paul Ryan's debate preparation against then-Vice President Joe Biden. In 2014, Stefanik ran for the House of Representatives, becoming the youngest women ever elected to Congress at the time. While Stefanik initially ran as a moderate Republican, and was opposed to former President Donald Trump, she slowly began to drift rightwards over the succeeding years.

In 2021, after then-House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney supported Trump's second impeachment, she was ousted and replaced by Stefanik, who received Trump's endorsement. In 2023, Stefanik rose to increased prominence due to her intense questioning of the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania regarding increased antisemitism on their campus. The questioning directly led to the resignation of UPenn President Lizz McGill and indirectly to the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay.

Trump was reportedly so pleased by Stefanik's performance that she has risen to become a potential vice presidential pick.

Posted by Matteo Cina Share Biden having 'senior moment' in debate 'won't be forgiven,' Van Jones says

CNN political commentator Van Jones said President Biden cannot afford to have a "senior moment" during the CNN Presidential Debate on Thursday night.

"[Biden] could have a senior moment," Jones said Thursday morning on CNN. "It won't be forgiven."

Biden and former President Trump's debate will be their first appearance on stage together since 2020. It will be aired on CNN and simulcast on Fox News.

Jones, who previously warned that Biden is losing support among young voters, said the worst debate outcome for the president was a major slip-up on stage.

"People have senior moments all the time," Jones said. "I say dumb stuff all the time. But if [Biden] does something that's more than usual, that could be very bad for him."

"Trump has problems tonight as well," Jones added. "Trump's in a box he's never been in before. There's no audience. So that oxygen that he gets from dropping his insults, comic stuff — there's no one that's going to be laughing at his jokes."

"He's not used to that," Jones continued. "Number two: the mic getting cut off is going to mess him up. Because he loves to run over people. That's his main thing. Won't be able to do it. Number three: he's got to pretend to be somebody he's not. He's got to pretend to be presidential."

"So he's going to be playing a role he's not used to, in a format that he's not used to, with his main weapon, being a bully, being taken away from him," Jones said.

Fox News' Jeffrey Clark contributed to this report.

Posted by Brandon Gillespie Share Trump campaign says Biden 'has blood on his hands' after deaths at hands of illegal immigrants

The Trump campaign on Thursday claimed President Biden "has blood on his hands" after the deaths of Americans at the hands of illegal immigrants.

Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to a Biden surrogate arguing that the border crisis is "more complicated than a bumper sticker" when asked about a slew of recent deaths at the hands of illegal immigrants.

"And to hear that man refer to the deaths of American citizens at the hands of illegal immigrants as a bumper sticker slogan, is honestly infuriating. Tell that to the family of Laken Riler, her mourning mother, who President Trump embraced at his rally in Georgia," Leavitt said.

"Tell that to the mourning mother of Jocelyn [Nungaray], the 12 year old in Texas who was just found strangled in a creek. Her mother is at her funeral today. Or the father of the 13 year old in New York, who was brutally raped in broad daylight and said on the record that it is because of Joe Biden's open border policies."

"Joe Biden has blood on his hands and he needs to answer for that tonight," she said.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share Trump posts debate prep on Truth Social hours before Biden showdown

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday posted his debate preparation on the issue of climate change, just hours before the CNN Presidential Debate with President Biden.

The post on Truth Social shows a message purportedly from adviser Andrew Wheeler highlighting that CO2 emissions went down during the Trump administration, and claiming that America became more reliant on American energy rather than foreign sources.

"We can do both. Biden just increased the energy costs for everyone," the talking points say .

He also hits Biden for rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and of benefiting China with his energy policies.

"Under my administration we will continue to reduce CO2 and focus on American made energy."

Posted by Adam Shaw Share What are the debate candidates' stances on abortion?

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump differ strongly on abortion.

Trump on abortion

Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Trump came out in favor of allowing states to decide whether women should be criminally charged for obtaining abortions, while Biden has called for federal action to expand abortion rights nationally.

"You don't need a federal ban," the former president said in a Time Magazine interview in April. "Roe v. Wade ... wasn't about abortion so much as bringing it back to the states. So the states would negotiate deals. Florida is going to be different from Georgia and Georgia is going to be different from other places."

Biden on abortion

For his part, Biden has blasted the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization as disruptive to women's rights and has condemned several states that have passed abortion bans since the Supreme Court decision.

A practicing Catholic, Biden's stand on the issue has frequently been a flashpoint in his political career, even as it has evolved over time. In a 1974 Washintgonian , then-Senator Biden said he believed Roe v. Wade "went too far, adding "I don't think that a woman has the sole right to say what should happen to her body."

Biden's stance since then moved leftward over time, particularly in the wake of Roe's reversal. If re-elected, Biden has vowed to enshrine Roe's protections into law.

"We can stop it, when you vote," Biden said in April at a pro-abortion right rally in Florida just after the state passed a six-week abortion ban. "Florida is one of the 21 states in America where you can't get access you need for care."

Posted by Jamie Joseph Share Biden campaign adviser says he would not shake Trump's hand in presidential debate

Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond said that he would not shake former President Trump's hand on stage in a conversation about decorum between the two presidential candidates in the CNN Presidential Debate scheduled for Thursday night.

"I don't think I would [shake Trump's hand], but President Biden consistently rises above pettiness, unlike Donald Trump," Richmond said Thursday morning on CNN. "So I would leave that up to him, but with what I've been through with the former president, I certainly would not."

Trump and Biden met for two presidential debates during the 2020 election cycle, with the third being canceled. On Thursday night, they will face off on the same stage in a debate hosted by CNN and simulcast on Fox News.

"Should President Biden shake Donald Trump's hand?" CNN's Kasie Hunt asked Richmond. "Does he deserve that?"

"That's up to President Biden. I'm sure there's no love lost there," he said. "I wouldn't shake his hand."

Fox News' Jeffrey Clark contributed to this report.

Posted by Brandon Gillespie Share Biden's age more of a liability than Trump's: poll

President Biden's age is viewed as much more of a liability than former President Donald Trump's, according to a new poll conducted ahead of the CNN presidential debate on Thursday.

While 81-year-old Biden is just three years older than Trump, who turned 78 this month, about 67% of Americans say Biden is too old to be president, nearly twice as many as the 37% who said the same for Trump, according to a Gallup poll released on Wednesday.

The results of the poll, conducted June 2-23, following Trump's conviction in the Manhattan hush money trial, are in line with prior Gallup polling showing that 31% of Americans are willing to vote for a presidential candidate over age 80, and 63% are willing to vote for a candidate over age 70.

In the June survey, Gallup said that half of respondents were asked whether each candidate is too old to be president, while the other half of respondents were asked whether they are concerned that each candidate is too old to be president. It showed that 59% were "very concerned" about Biden's age, versus 18% about Trump's. "When factoring in those who are 'somewhat concerned,' a combined 76% are concerned Biden is too old for the job, while 38% are concerned about Trump," Gallup said.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share If Biden, Trump are still working on their bases, 'then they have problems': Trey Gowdy

Fox News host Trey Gowdy addressed the approaches being taken by former President Trump and President Biden ahead of tonight's debate.

"You have to know who your jury is, what your audience is. I mean, if these two candidates are still working on their bases, then they have problems," Gowdy said.

"I think they ought to be working on undecided to voters to the extent their are any, or moderates. When Joe Biden accuses Donald Trump of being a convicted felon, my response would be, 'You're right. So is your son. And, Joe, you're an uncovicted felon. You're unconvicted because special counsel said you're not even competent to stand trial,'" he added.

Gowdy said he would then pivot to how crime and immigration have led to suffering for everyday Americans under Biden's policies.

He went on to say Trump has "good facts," and doesn't have to "throw tantrums" as the Biden campaign reportedly hopes they can entice him to do.

Posted by Brandon Gillespie Share White House press corps accuses CNN of limiting debate hall access: 'deeply concerned'

The White House press corps is accusing CNN, the network hosting tonight's presidential debate between President Biden and former President Donald Trump, of limiting access to the debate hall.

The statement by the White House Correspondents' Association says that it has advocated for the inclusion of the press pool in the studio, and it appreciated actions CNN has taken - including providing a television feed to other networks and granting access to photographers.

"However, WHCA is deeply concerned that CNN has rejected our repeated requests to include the White House travel pool inside the studio," Kelly O'Donnell, president of the WHCA said.

O'Donnell said that WHCA has been informed that one print reporter will be allowed to enter during a commercial break to 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," she said. "The pool is there for the 'what ifs?' in a world where the unexpected does happen. A pool reporter is present to provide context and insight by direct observation and not through the lens of the television production. 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. Further, the pool is screened by the US Secret Service and travels with the president on Air Force One so there is no security issue."

She said that there was no opposition from the Biden and Trump campaigns to the inclusion of the pool reporter.

"The White House travel pool has been included in past presidential debates and we believe that standard of access is essential," she said. "Precedent matters for future debates."

O'Donnell finished by urging CNN to "adjust its plan and welcome the White House travel pool print representative to witness the debate in full for the sake of the news cycle, for history and mostly importantly for the American people."

Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich contributed reporting.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share How many presidential debates should Americans expect between Trump, Biden before November?

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump , the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees respectively, have agreed to two debates ahead of the November general election.

The first debate hosted by Cable News Network (CNN) in an Atlanta studio on June 27 will be the first time both candidates have taken the debate stage this election cycle. Trump did not participate in any of the Republican primary debates, while the Democratic National Committee endorsed Biden and did not hold any primary debates among his challengers.

Thursday's debate will not have a live audience. On Sept. 10, the second debate to be hosted by ABC and moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will likewise proceed without a live audience.

To qualify for the CNN and ABC debates, candidates must meet specific criteria: they must appear on enough state ballots to potentially secure 270 electoral votes, and they need to achieve a minimum of 15% support in four separate national presidential polls of registered or likely voters.

The last time Biden and Trump faced off on television was during the 2020 election race, where they debated twice.

Posted by Jamie Joseph Share What you need to know about the ABC Presidential Debate between Trump, Biden in September

Following Thursday night's debate between President Biden and former President Donald Trump, the pair will meet again for a presidential debate in September.

That debate, which will be hosted by ABC News, is slated to take place on Thursday, Sept. 10.

The primetime debate , according to ABC News, will air on ABC, the 24/7 streaming network ABC News Live, and Hulu.

In order to participate in the September debate, ABC News noted that candidates "must fulfill the requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States; file a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission; appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency prior to the eligibility deadline; agree to accept the rules and format of the debate; and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet ABC's standards for reporting."

Both Biden and Trump agreed to participate in the ABC News debate on May 15. It is not clear if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will have an opportunity to participate in September but given the criterion to make the debate stage it would appear unlikely.

Like the CNN debate, the ABC News debate will not be hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). The 2024 election cycle marks the first time since 1987, when the CPD was founded, that major party presidential candidates both declined to participate in debates hosted by the CPD.

Posted by Kyle Morris Share What are the CNN Presidential Debate candidates' stances on Russia and Ukraine?

Since February 2022, the U.S. has poured billions of dollars into Ukrainian aid in its defense against the Russia invasion .

Trump on Russia and Ukraine

If elected, former President Donald Trump has vowed to end the war within 24 hours, but didn't outline exactly how it would unfold.

On Tuesday, Reuters exclusively reported that two prominent Trump advisers presented him a Ukraine-Russia plan that, if elected, would require Ukraine to enter into peace talks with Russia prior to any additional military aid. Moscow would have to cooperate in the negotiations, otherwise the U.S. would double down on its support for Ukraine.

Biden on Russia and Ukraine

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has cemented his continued support for Ukraine's victory in the contentious war, and has urged Congress to finalize an aid package to deliver more military resources to Ukraine. Biden also held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in December in which Zelenskyy made a final plea to lawmakers about the importance of continued American support. In late December, Biden authorized the U.S. Department of State to send $250 million in aid to Ukraine and said the package would mark the final distribution of assistance to the Eastern European nation without lawmakers' approval.

In April, Biden signed into law the House and Senate's finalized $95 billion war aid package to assist Ukraine , Israel, Taiwan and other U.S. allies.

Posted by Jamie Joseph Share Biden camp dodges answering if president plans to use performance-enhancing drugs before debate

President Biden's campaign repeatedly dodged answering a point-blank question about whether Biden plans to take any drugs to enhance his performance during the CNN Presidential Debate on Thursday evening.

Biden's opponent at the debate, former President Trump, has led a rising chorus – that has come to include lawmakers – demanding that Biden take a drug test before the showdown. Those advocating a screening suggest that Biden may be motivated by a desire to quell mounting concerns about his mental acuity.

Given the controversy, Fox News Digital reached out to the Biden campaign, White House and Trump campaign asking if the respective candidates have any plans to use performance-enhancing drugs for the debate.

The Biden campaign twice avoided a direct answer to the question.

"Donald Trump is so scared of being held accountable for his toxic agenda of attacking reproductive freedom and cutting Social Security that he and his allies are resorting to desperate, obviously false lies," Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt told Fox News Digital on Wednesday evening.

When asked in a follow-up email for a "yes" or "no" response, Hitt said her original statement answered the question.

"The accusation from Trump on drugs is a 'desperate, obviously false lie,'" Hitt added.

The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Posted by Emma Colton Share Trump's facial expressions may speak louder than his words during debate

During the 2020 and 2016 presidential debates, former President Donald Trump made a slew of facial expressions that showed his responses to what was being said by his opponents.

Notable incidents came as he faced off with President Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. That could be a characteristic he takes into the 2024 debates with Biden tonight.

'Outnumbered' revisits Trump's facial expressions from previous debates and discusses the role body language may play in the CNN Presidential Debate.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share Recent Supreme Court decision on censorship could be topic of debate

One possible topic for the CNN Presidential Debate is the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in a case where plaintiffs accused the Biden administration of censorship .

On Wednesday, the court ruled 6-3 that the plaintiffs, a group of conservative states and social media users, had no standing to sue the federal government over its attempts to influence the censorship policies of social media giants. Justice Amy Coney Barrett authored the opinion of the court, but Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented.

Barrett, speaking for the court, argued none of the plaintiffs had established that they were under threat in the case.

"To establish standing, the plaintiffs must demonstrate a substantial risk that, in the near future, they will suffer an injury that is traceable to a Government defendant and redressable by the injunction they seek. Because no plaintiff has carried that burden, none has standing to seek a preliminary injunction," Barrett wrote.

Alito blasted the majority opinion in his written dissent, which Thomas and Gorsuch joined. He said the Court's opinion "unjustifiably refuses" to intervene on behalf of the "victims" of COVID-era censorship.

"For months in 2021 and 2022, a coterie of officials at the highest levels of the Federal Government continuously harried and implicitly threatened Facebook with potentially crippling consequences if it did not comply with their wishes about the suppression of certain COVID–19-related speech," Alito wrote.

"I assume that a fair portion of what social media users had to say about COVID–19 and the pandemic was of little lasting value. Some was undoubtedly untrue or misleading, and some may have been downright dangerous. But we now know that valuable speech was also suppressed. That is what inevitably happens when entry to the marketplace of ideas is restricted."

Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom contributed to this update.

Posted by Chris Pandolfo Share How could Hunter Biden's gun trial impact Biden's campaign

Earlier this month, first son Hunter Biden was found guilty on all charges in his historic criminal case focused on his purchase of a handgun in 2018.

Hunter Biden was found guilty of making a false statement in the purchase of a gun, making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federally licensed gun dealer, and possession of a gun by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.

While it isn't immediately clear whether the result of Hunter Biden's gun trial will have an impact on his father's presidential campaign, it has caused President Biden's re-election campaign to face new questions.

A Monmouth University poll released this month found that nearly half of respondents believed the charges against Hunter Biden, the president's sole surviving son, were politically motivated.

The Monmouth poll, which was conducted prior to a verdict being reached in Hunter Biden's trial, noted that both candidates continue "to draw almost identical levels of support, although voter enthusiasm for this rematch has increased among both Republicans and Democrats."

According to the survey, just over four in 10 registered voters say they'll either definitely or probably vote for the Democratic incumbent and in a separate question, a nearly identical number say they'll definitely or probably vote for his Republican predecessor in the White House.

"I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today," Biden said this month, just minutes after Hunter Biden was found guilty by the federal jury.

Biden has said he will not pardon or commute the sentence of his son.

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this update.

Posted by Kyle Morris Share Former Republican presidential candidate remarks leading up to the CNN Presidential Debate

Ahead of the CNN presidential debate, former Republican presidential candidates have largely lined up behind former President Trump - despite some significant divisions between them in the past.

Nikki Haley, who ran for the 2024 nomination but dropped out earlier this year, said she will vote for Trump in November.

Haley, who served as U.N. ambassador under Trump, said last month that Trump has "not been perfect" on a number of policy issues. However, she said he would be significantly better than former President Joe Biden, who she described as a "catastrophe."

Former candidate and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said on Monday he believes that the debate is going to be a chance for Trump to show his strength "versus Joe Biden's weakness."

"Democrats have lowered expectations so low, if this is supposed to be Super Bowl week, it's like Joe Biden will get a participation medal if he walks on the field and takes a few snaps or even if he is still standing on the sidelines at the end of the fourth quarter," he said on The Ingraham Angle.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also thrown his hat in the ring with Trump, and has urged donors to back the 2024 presidential nominee as part of a broader reconciliation between the two.

DeSantis had endorsed Trump when he dropped out of the race in January, stating that Trump was the clear frontrunner and is "superior" to Biden.

Other candidates have even stayed out of the limelight since dropping out, including some who have been eyed as potential VP picks for Trump. Trump has said his vice presidential pick will be in the audience on Thursday.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share Legally, how is Trump still allowed to run for president despite a felony conviction?

Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records in a New York criminal court last month, but can still run for president.

A Manhattan jury convicted the 45th president on May 30 of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments to a former pornographic actress amid the 2016 election cycle.

Trump can still run for the White House, as the Constitution does not place restrictions on presidential candidates based on criminal record. It stipulates that those pursuing the White House be natural-born citizens who are at least 35 years old and who have resided in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

Trump has not yet been sentenced in the case, and prison time remains a potential, though unlikely, option. He is the first former president in U.S. history found guilty of committing felony crimes. Trump has maintained his innocence in the case, calling it a "witch hunt" and "sham" promoted by the Biden administration ahead of the 2024 election.

Posted by Emma Colton Share Biden's remarks on Trump's indictments

One of the most anticipated aspects of the CNN Presidential Debate is likely to be whether President Biden will bring up any of the criminal prosecutions or the recent conviction against former President Trump .

The president has said little thus far about his predecessor's indictments , and his White House has dutifully followed suit.

Trump's criminal conviction in New York City is a different matter, however.

"It's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict," Biden said at the White House regarding Trump and his allies' accusations of a two-tiered justice system.

At a fundraising event earlier this month in Connecticut, Biden called Trump a "convicted felon" and said it was "disturbing" he was seeking the presidency again.

Mitch Landrieu, a top Biden campaign official, signaled on NBC News' "Meet The Press" earlier this week that Trump's legal woes will come up during the debate.

"People are going to know that he's a twice-impeached, convicted felon who's been found to have defamed somebody, sexually abused somebody and gone bankrupt six times," Landrieu said.

Posted by Elizabeth Elkind Share Takeaways from the Trump trial and how it could impact his campaign leading up to November

Former President Donald Trump's conviction in his historic trial in New York City last month sent his 2024 election rematch with President Biden into uncharted waters.

Trump was the first former or current president to stand trial in a criminal case.

While it has yet to be determined how much the jury's verdict of guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records could impact the trajectory of the presidential race, Trump continues to hammer his points about the need for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous America.

Trump currently holds a slight edge, both in national polling and in public opinion surveys, in most of the crucial battleground states that will likely decide the election.

A Monmouth University poll that was released this month spotlighted that the impact on the presidential election of the Trump verdict is minimal, with both candidates continuing "to draw almost identical levels of support, although voter enthusiasm for this rematch has increased among both Republicans and Democrats."

Fifty-seven percent of those questioned in the Monmouth poll said that they thought the decision to bring Trump to trial was politically motivated.

The verdict in Trump's trial quickly sparked a donation frenzy, with the former president raising millions for his campaign in the immediate hours afterward.

Following the verdict being made public in Trump's trial, his campaign announced that it had hauled in $34.8 million in fundraising from 6 p.m. ET to midnight on May 30, immediately after Trump was found guilty.

On the evening of May 31, the day after Trump was found guilty by the jury, the Trump campaign announced it had raised nearly $53 million in the 24 hours following the verdict through their online digital fundraising platform.

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this update.

Posted by Kyle Morris Share What are the CNN Presidential Debate candidates' stances on immigration?

Illegal immigration is a top issue on voters minds this election cycle, with the U.S. seeing record numbers of illegal migrant crossings at the border. There were more than 2.4 million in federal fiscal year 2023 alone on top of three years of the highest crossings ever seen. Republicans have hammered Biden over the crisis, arguing that it is his policies — and the rolling back of Trump-era ones — that have fueled the crisis.

Trump on immigration

Former President Trump has promised to authorize the largest domestic deportation operation in U.S. history if elected, as well as reversing "every Open Border policy of the Biden administration." He has also promised to deploy special forces to the border and reinstate his 2017 travel ban.

In Thursday's CNN Presidential Debate, it is likely Trump will point out alarming incidents of rape and murder allegedly committed by illegal migrants to help make his case.

Biden on immigration

Biden, meanwhile, has argued that the underlying problem is a "broken" immigration system that only Congress can fix with legislative reform. Early in his presidency, Biden introduced a reform bill in Congress, but Republicans object to a provision to including a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants already here.

The president also backed a separate bipartisan Senate bill introduced this year, but it has failed to pick up steam. Biden has blamed Trump for stifling the bill, which includes additional funding for border operations as well as heightened asylum restrictions .

Biden has made two major immigration moves in recent weeks as congressional action stalls. One was a move to further limit asylum claims by migrants once average border encounters exceed 2,500 a day. Last week he also announced a deportation shield for some illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens.

Fox News Digital's Adam Shaw contributed to this report.

Posted by Jamie Joseph Share Are Americans looking for cognitive superiority from Trump or Biden at the CNN Presidential Debate?

Americans on both sides of the aisle will be on edge Thursday night as they watch both President Biden and former President Trump carefully for overt signs of aging – including their mental acuity.

The 81-year-old president is facing off against his 78-year-old rival in the CNN Presidential Debate.

Much has been made about Biden's mental fitness for office, particularly as critics point out viral video clips that appear to show public gaffes or lapses from the President in thought. Former White House doctor-turned-House GOP Rep. Ronny Jackson has even made several demands that Biden take a cognitive test.

But Trump's foes on the left have also accused the ex-president of losing his sharpness. Progressive X influencers seized on Trump after a speech in Nashville over the weekend, accusing him of going on rambling and sometimes incoherent tangents.

Unlike Biden, however, Trump took a cognitive test while in office to try to dispel rumors about his mental fitness at the time.

Posted by Elizabeth Elkind Share North Carolina blocks RFK Jr., Cornel West from ballot — for now

The election board of North Carolina has denied two political parties' bids to nominate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Cornel West as their candidates.

State election officials have confirmed that We the People Party submitted more than the 13,865 valid signatures necessary to register as a political party ahead of the 2024 election. The Justice for All Party similarly turned in more than the minimum number of signatures necessary.

Republican members of the election board on Wednesday backed the two parties' push for formal recognition, which would allow them to select candidates for the ballot.

Three Democrats on the election board blocked the motion, citing concerns about how the third parties presented themselves during the signature gathering process and how voters understood their goals.

A delay has been instituted as officials further investigate whether the two parties presented themselves as coherent political organizations or only as a vehicle for Kennedy and West as "independent" candidates.

Independent candidates in North Carolina are subject to a much higher 83,188 signature threshold to qualify for the ballot.

Board Chair Alan Hirsch told leaders of We The People that the challenge is "not intended to deny your status as a party."

"It's just to do our job and to be sure that [...] the people that signed the petition know the purpose and intent," he explained.

The elections board will reconvene on July 9 to revisit the parties' demand for formal recognition.

Fox News Digital's Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this update.

Posted by Chris Pandolfo Share Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger explains why he is endorsing Democratic President Biden

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., endorsed Democratic President Biden on the eve of Thursday's CNN Presidential Debate.

The former military pilot and Iraq War veteran transformed into a major Republican Trump critic after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, led by Trump supporters who aimed to upend the congressional certification of Biden's 2020 election victory. On Wednesday, he charged that former President Trump is "a direct threat to every fundamental American value" in a video announcing his endorsement.

Hours later, standing in the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Kinzinger said that "if you'd have told me three years ago that 'You're going to be endorsing a Democrat for president in three years,' I probably wouldn't have believed you."

"But I got to tell you, the stakes of this moment are way too high," Kinzinger added.

Another vocal GOP Trump critic, former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, joined Kinzinger at the news conference, along with former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and Georgia Senate Democrat Leader Gloria Butler.

"Going against the grain as a Republican and supporting Democrat Joe Biden for president is not easy, but I'm not looking at this election through the lens of being a Republican," Duncan explained. "I'm looking through the lens of being an American. An American that cares more about the future of my country than the [morally] bankrupt nominee of my party."

Posted by Paul Steinhauser Share Ahead of first debate, polling guru reveals 2024 election 'isn't a toss-up'

Polling and data guru Nate Silver revealed former President Trump was solidly favored to win the White House in his first presidential election forecast on Wednesday.

"The candidate who I honest-to-God think has a better chance (Trump) isn't the candidate I'd rather have win (Biden)," Silver, who formerly ran polling analysis website FiveThirtyEight, wrote in his "Silver Bulletin" substack.

Silver's forecast model, based on 40,000 simulations, found Trump had a 65.7% of winning the electoral college, compared to Biden, who had a 33.7% chance. However, Biden is slightly favored to win the popular vote. Trump lost the popular vote in 2016 but won the presidency with a slew of narrow swing state wins.

"If the Electoral College/popular vote gap looks anything like it did in 2016 or 2020, you'd expect Biden to be in deep trouble if the popular vote is roughly tied," Silver wrote.

Silver noted that his model adjusts "for whether polls are conducted among registered or likely voters, the presence or absence of [Robert F. Kennedy] Jr., and house effects," and added that his polling averages "weight more reliable polls more heavily."

The data expert wrote that there was still time for Biden to turn things around and suggested the president give the nomination to Vice President Harris or someone else at the Democratic convention. However, he wrote, "Disclaimer: that also might be a terrible idea."

"And he's really not that far behind," Silver wrote of Biden. "But the race isn't a toss-up. That's at best a white lie — a convenient fiction that allows everyone to shirk accountability for their forecasts and their decisions."

Fox News Digital's Hanna Panreck contributed to this update.

Posted by Chris Pandolfo Share What are the CNN Presidential Debate candidates' stances on natural disasters?

Biden on natural disasters

President Biden has spearheaded significant spending on climate infrastructure , which his administration believes will mitigate some of the effects of natural disasters.

The president has pushed an environmental agenda that includes decreasing carbon output over several years, often attributing " unprecedented wildfires , ... extreme flooding, ... [and] record breaking hurricanes" to "the climate crisis." He has also pushed for additional funding for disaster relief in spending bills.

Trump on natural disasters

Meanwhile, former president Trump has been critical of Biden's spending on climate initiatives and has suggested he will attempt to end various grants made available by legislation Biden championed. In some disaster instances, Trump has called out states for not taking proper precautions. In 2020, the former president blasted California for allegedly mismanaging its land and failing to do the necessary maintenance to avoid disastrous wildfires.

"Maybe we're just going to have to make them pay for it because they don't listen to us," he said at the time. "I've been telling them this now for three years, but they don't want to listen ... 'The environment, the environment,' but they have massive fires again."

Posted by Julia Johnson Share What are the CNN Presidential Debate candidates' stances on current health care?

Biden on health care

President Biden's approach to health care has been centered on access and affordability. His administration has been committed to continuing and building off of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, passed during President Obama's time in office. He sees capping the price of insulin to $35 dollars through the Inflation Reduction Act as one of his administration's biggest achievements, often reminding Americans of it both officially and on the campaign trail.

Trump on health care

Former President Trump similarly worked to address affordability and bring prices down for health care services and drugs across the country while he was in office. To do this, his administration focused on price transparency by requiring health care providers to make itemized billing available to patients. Despite being unable to repeal the Affordable Care Act while in office, Trump has suggested he would attempt to reform Obamacare if reelected in 2024, claiming he is "seriously looking at alternatives" to it.

Posted by Julia Johnson Share What are the CNN Presidential Debate candidates' stances on the economy?

Biden on the economy

President Biden has pointed to several different positive economic markers throughout his presidency, including the stock market and incremental improvements to inflation. He has acknowledged the economic issues that many still face, promising to ease taxation burdens on middle class families but also vowing to raise taxes on those who make more than $400,000 a year and large corporations.

Trump on the economy

Former President Trump has been critical of the economy under Biden, specifically the pressure Americans have felt during inflation. He has vowed to stop spending on "grants and giveaways under the Joe Biden mammoth socialist bills like the so-called Inflation Reduction Act."

Further, Trump has promised to use the impoundment power to cut waste and bureaucracy, thereby claiming to save taxpayers money . Trump would also be expected to seek to renew the tax cuts he secured in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which will begin to expire at the end of 2025.

Posted by Julia Johnson Share What is 'woke' culture and will the topic come up during the CNN Presidential Debate?

"Woke culture" is a term that has gained popularity in recent years to describe a social and cultural awareness of issues related to social justice, inequality, and systemic oppression. The term "woke" means being awake or aware, especially in the context of social and political issues.

In contemporary usage, "woke culture" refers to a heightened awareness and consciousness about issues such as racism , sexism, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, economic inequality, and other forms of systemic discrimination. It encompasses an understanding of how historical and ongoing social injustices impact marginalized communities. People who are considered "woke" are seen as being engaged in advocating for and supporting these causes.

While "woke culture" is embraced by many as a means of raising awareness and promoting social justice, it can also be a subject of debate. Some critics argue that it can lead to excessive political correctness or "cancel culture," where individuals are excluded for their views. Generally "woke" perspectives are associated with left-wing political and social movements.

In early June, former President Trump issued a stark warning about a "woke" U.S. military during an exclusive interview with "Fox & Friends Weekend," vowing to fire far-left military leaders as the Pentagon faces backlash for honoring Pride Month.

"I got to know the real fighting generals. There's not 'woke' in the military . There's 'woke' at the top," Trump said during the sit-down interview with hosts Pete Hegseth, Will Cain and Rachel Campos-Duffy.

Fox News' Bailee Hill contributed to this report.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share Will Trump and Biden take questions from audience members at the CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast?

CNN's debate moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, will be the sole individuals asking questions in tonight's debate as there will be no live audience in the studio for the first time in decades.

President Biden and former President Trump's respective campaigns agreed to the no audience rule earlier this month. They also agreed the candidates' microphones will be muted outside their designated response times, as well as that they will only have access to a bottle of water, a pen and a pad of paper while at the podium.

The agreement to forego the live audience is a throwback to the first televised presidential debates in 1960 between then-Democrat Sen. John F. Kennedy, Jr. and then-Vice President Richard Nixon.

There were smaller audiences during the 2020 presidential debates due to the then-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Posted by Brandon Gillespie Share Ad Wars: Trump campaign returns to the airwaves with aim focused on Biden

The Trump campaign announced on Thursday morning that they would launch two ads for debate day , their first two spots since the end of the GOP primaries over three months ago.

A commercial titled "Promises" slams what it charges is "Biden's disastrous record that has destroyed the booming Trump economy , [importing] over 11 million unvetted illegals from all over the world into our country."

And an ad titled "Who is laughing Now" takes aim at the 81-year-old president's physical abilities, as it argues that " Biden can't ride a bicycle , climb a flight of stairs, or find his way off a stage."

The spot suggests that the president wouldn't last another four years in the White House and that "waiting in the wings" is who they derogatorily call "Cackling Kamala Harris."

The Trump campaign wouldn't say how much money they're putting behind the one-day ad buy. But AdImpact said it was tracking only $100 thousand in reservations from the Trump team.

Posted by Paul Steinhauser Share Biden campaign launches seven-figure ad blitz ahead of CNN debate

The Biden campaign announced Thursday morning what they said would be a seven-figure "media blitz" launched ahead of the CNN Presidential Debate.

The campaign said it includes ads on the websites of Buzzfeed, USA Today, CNN, El Tiempo Latino, Telemundo, theGrio and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where they'll spotlight what they argue are "the dangers of electing Trump to a second term."

Biden's team also took out full-page ads in the hard copy editions of USA Today.

"Today's show of force in Atlanta and across the battlegrounds emphasizes the two contrasting visions the American people will see on the debate stage tonight: between President Biden fighting for the American people, and Donald Trump whose campaign is focused on benefiting one person only: himself," Biden campaign senior spokesperson Kevin Munoz argued in a statement.

The Biden campaign , which has been dominating the TV ad wars since Trump went dark on air after clinching the Republican presidential nomination in mid-March, has been launching new ads each day this week in the lead up to the debate.

The latest spot, shared first with Fox News, features Genesee County, Michigan Sheriff Chris Swanson discussing how he watched in horror as Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and attacked Capitol police officers on Jan. 6, 2021.

AdImpact, a leading national ad tracking firm, reported that the Biden campaign reserved $2 million in ad reservations for Thursday alone.

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this update.

Posted by Chris Pandolfo Share Top moments from Trump and Biden's 2020 debates

The 2020 presidential debates between Biden and Trump saw a number of memorable moments, including tense attacks and clashes over Hunter Biden and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first debate in Sep. 2020 saw both men routinely talk over one another, culminating in an outburst from Biden.

"Will you shut up, man?" he said. "This is so un-presidential."

The subject of Hunter came up during the final debate, forcing Biden to go on the defensive over allegations he profited from his son's foreign business dealings .

"I think you owe an explanation to the American people," Trump told Biden.

Biden responded: "I have not taken a penny from any foreign source ever in my life." Turning to attack Trump, he added: "We learned this president paid 50 times the tax in China, has a secret bank account with China. Does business in China."

"I have released all of my tax returns ... 22 years of my tax returns," Biden said. "You have not released a single solitary year of your tax returns ... what are you hiding?"

Concerning COVID-19 , Biden said of Trump's handling of the pandemic, "Anybody responsible for that many deaths should not remain president of the United States of America."

"We can't lock ourselves in a basement like he does. ... He has this thing about living in a basement," Trump said, echoing his previous exhortations to Americans to not be afraid of the virus.

The two also clashed over immigration, with Biden repeating the often used Democrat talking point at the time that Trump was responsible for putting illegal immigrant children in "cages."

"Parents ... kids were ripped from their arms and they were separated ... those kids are alone, nowhere to go," Biden said of the Trump administration policy concerning family separation, which, before it ended in 2018, was highly controversial.

Trump replied by pointing out that the infrastructure for many of the controversies on the border in the past four years was carried over from the Obama-Biden administration.

"Who built the cages, Joe?" Trump said.

Fox News' Andrew Mark Miller and Tyler Olsen contributed to this report

Posted by Brandon Gillespie Share Trump relies on campaigning and meetings with key allies in lieu of mock debates

Former President Trump is taking a vastly different approach to debate prep from President Biden.

While Biden has opted to hunker down with his advisors at Camp David, Trump has so far avoided any mock debates with his team and is focusing heavily on meeting with close allies and hitting the campaign trail.

Trump has been gathering with Republican allies for private meetings in recent weeks as he looks ahead to the debate, including a handful of those in contention to be his vice presidential running mate, senators and other policy experts, sources tell Fox News Digital. His campaign has characterized the meetings as "policy discussions."

One of the vice presidential nominee contenders, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, huddled with Trump and members of his staff earlier this month at the former president's Mar-a-Lago club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Sources familiar with the meeting confirmed the encounter and that the session centered around debate messaging on the economy and how to target Biden over inflation.

Trump also took part in another policy discussion last week during his one-day trip to the nation's capital, where he met behind closed doors with Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, another potential running mate, as well as first-term Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri.

Trump co-campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, veterans in the political world, also sat in on the session, which included discussions on how to deal with likely debate questions on the Jan. 6, 2021, protests at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of the former president aiming to disrupt congressional certification of Biden's 2020 election victory.

Trump has also held policy discussions with senior advisers Kellyanne Conway and Stephen Miller, and with former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell. To date though, none of the sessions have included any mock debates, which is a switch from 2020 when former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie role-played Biden to prepare Trump for the general election debates.

"President Trump takes on numerous tough interviews every single week and delivers lengthy rally speeches while standing, demonstrating elite stamina. He does not need to be programmed by staff or shot up with chemicals like Joe Biden does," senior adviser Jason Miller told Fox News Digital concerning why Trump has yet to do any traditional mock debates.

Trump has demanded that both candidates be drug tested before the debate.

Fox News Digital's Brandon Gillespie contributed to this update.

Posted by Chris Pandolfo Share How do presidential candidates prepare for debates?

Presidential candidates often prepare for debates by having staff and allies assist them with policy refreshers and holding mock debates, during which they assume what the opponent might say and come up with retorts.

In getting ready for the debate , former President Trump reportedly did away with this traditional practice, instead opting for what were characterized as policy discussions with his political advisers ahead of the match up, according to the New York Post.

On the other hand, President Biden retreated to Camp David to prep for the debate. His team created a mock debate stage with lights to replicate the experience, The New York Times reported.

He is also reportedly being assisted by at least 16 current and former staffers to develop strategy and shape his responses . Biden's personal attorney, Bob Bauer, played the role of Trump years prior for debate preparation, and he is reportedly expected to be taking on the project once again, per Politico.

In a recent interview, Bauer recalled being unafraid to confront Biden with arguments and claims that he may not like in order to fully prepare him for his opponent.

Posted by Julia Johnson Share Biden debate prep focused on ways to 'trigger' Trump: reports

The vastly different approaches taken by President Biden and former President Trump in prepping for Thursday's presidential debate have continued to diverge, with the former hoping he can "trigger" the latter in the heat of the moment, and the latter relying heavily on his campaign experience, multiple reports show.

Biden has spent the last five days at Camp David in rural Maryland huddling with at least 16 current and former aides, according to The New York Times, while Trump, who spoke with Fox News over the weekend, has held "policy discussions" with allies to prep for what is expected to be an epic clash on the debate stage in CNN's Atlanta studios.

An old movie theater and airplane hangar have been outfitted as a mock debate stage, where Biden, despite having varying hours and a non-rigid schedule, is preparing to go on the offensive against Trump on issues like immigration and abortion , as well as push back on claims — appearing to be supported by various videos — that he is confused and frail," The Times reported.

Biden's mock debates have included his personal attorney, Bob Bauer , playing the role of Trump, the report said, while the team helping prepare him is being led by former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, and includes National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, current White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, White House counselor Steve Richetti, as well as campaign officials Anita Dunn, Mike Donilon, Ben LaBolt, Jen O'Malley Dillon, Cedric Richmond, Julie Chavez Rodriquez, Quentin Fulks, Michael Tyler and Rob Flaherty.

Former White House official Brian Deese is also expected to assist, according to the report.

Three sources familiar with the debate prep told NBC News that Biden advisors are studying the former president's recent comments to see what topics might get under his skin most — all an effort to throw off what appears to be a more disciplined Trump as of late.

One source told the outlet the goal is to get "rally Trump" to come out, with another specifically pointing to Biden possibly attacking the former president's 2020 election loss and subsequent actions that led to the Jan. 6 protest as a way to anger him by making him feel he's being called a "loser."

Those sources told NBC they believe attacking Trump's post-2020 election actions could help boost Biden with independent voters who might be turned off by continued claims he actually won the election.

Posted by Brandon Gillespie Share Presidential candidates stood in silence for 27 minutes in 1976 during a live debate

During one of three of the 1976 presidential debates between former President Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter , technical difficulties occurred resulting in complete silence for almost 30 minutes.

Of the 90 minutes provided for the presidential debate , 27 minutes of the ABC-aired event were in silence as the Republican and Democrat nominees stood on stage waiting for a fix to their audio.

As Carter was answering a question posed by an audience member, a member of ABC's team came over the sound to relay the technical difficulties and said, "It is not a conspiracy against Governor Carter or President Ford and they will fix it as soon as possible."

When audio was restored, Carter and Ford went on to discuss the future of America.

"Our nation in the last eight years has been divided," Carter said. "It's a time for unity. It's a time to draw ourselves together, to have a president and a congress that can work together with mutual respect for a change."

Ford followed Carter's final remarks and said, "A president should never promise more than he can deliver. And a president should always deliver everything that he's promised. A president can't be all things to all people. A president should be the same thing to all people."

Carter went on to defeat Ford in November.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share There were no presidential debates in 1964, 1968 and 1972. Here's why

Since the first televised presidential debate between former President John F. Kennedy and former President Richard Nixon in 1960, there hasn't always been a consistent flow of head-to-head matchups for Americans to watch every four years between White House hopefuls.

In fact, after the inaugural television debate in 1960, it would be 16 years and three presidential election cycles later before another would be held.

In 1964, then-President Lyndon Johnson refused to participate in a debate against then-Republican nominee and Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, citing his lead in the polls.

Four years later, in 1968, Nixon, still reeling from his not-so-stellar performance in the 1960 debate, refused to debate then-Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey.

Then, in 1972, Nixon continued that trend, refusing to debate Democratic candidate George McGovern, citing his lead in the polls.

However, since 1976, there have been debates held in every presidential election cycle.

In 2020, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump debated in front of a televised audience of 73.1 mllion viewers. It was the third most-watched debate in history, according to Statista.

Fox News' Gabriele Regalbuto contributed to this report.

Posted by Brandon Gillespie Share Which Donald Trump will show up at Thursday night's CNN Presidential Debate?

It's the biggest question surrounding Thursday night's CNN Presidential Debate, which is the first of two on-stage showdowns between President Biden and former President Trump in the 2024 election rematch.

Which version of the former president will show up at the primetime debate in Atlanta, the capital and largest city in the southeastern battleground of Georgia?

Will it be the undisciplined candidate who continuously interrupted Biden and debate moderator Chris Wallace dozens and dozens of times at their first debate in the 2020 election?

Trump appeared to lose his cool, failed to condemn White supremacists, and his performance was widely panned by political pundits and viewers alike.

The then-president reworked his strategy and his disciplined and measured performance in the second 2020 general election debate was a vast improvement. But it was too late, as Biden ended up winning the presidential election.

"If he replicates that performance, Donald Trump's going to have a very good night," longtime Republican consultant and veteran debate coach Brett O'Donnell told Fox News.

O'Donnell said his advice to Trump is "watch the second debate you had with Joe Biden in 2020 and replicate that performance. Watch it over and over and replicate that performance in this debate."

"He was measured but firm," O'Donnell said of Trump. "You can be aggressive and passionate without being offensive."

Posted by Paul Steinhauser Share Americans reveal their election priorities ahead of Trump and Biden's CNN Presidential Debate

As President Biden and former President Trump prepare to meet on the debate stage Thursday in Atlanta, voters across the country shared their top election priorities with Fox News Digital.

Two issues dominated: the economy and immigration .

"The economy's crippling people," said Vince from Maryland. "You go to a restaurant, you get something to eat, it used to be $40 for lunch. Now it's $65, $70 just for lunch."

A Tennessee woman worried about "all of the millions that have come across the border."

"What are you going to do with them?" she asked. "Where are the jobs for them? Where's the housing for them?"

Those concerns deviate slightly from the results of a nationwide Fox News Poll, conducted earlier this month. The future of American democracy topped the list with 68% of registered voters saying it will be extremely important in deciding which candidate they will support in November.

The economy trailed by two percentage points (66%), followed by stability and normalcy (58%). Further down the list was immigration with 52% saying it will be extremely important to them — tied with health care.

Yet voters all over the country, including in states like Oregon and New York that are far from the southern border, said immigration was a major concern for them.

"It's a lot of favoritism going towards the immigrants for some reason," Jason from Queens told Fox News Digital. "Us New Yorkers are keeping quiet about it, mostly, but I would love for [Trump and Biden] to talk about ... how they're going to move forward, because they're doing a lot of crazy stuff. Beating up police. Harassing women. They're doing a lot of crazy stuff."

This is an excerpt from a Fox News Digital Originals story, continue reading here .

Posted by Chris Pandolfo Share The most watched presidential debate in history drew 84.4 million viewers

Every four years, presidential debates draw millions of viewers across the United States. Americans settle in to watch Republican and Democratic nominees battle it out on a stage in front of the country in hopes of winning over the approval of voters come November.

Historically, the third most viewed presidential debate was between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in 2020. The 90-minute debate accumulated 73.1 viewers, according to Statista.

Tonight, the incumbent president and GOP nominee, Trump, will face off once again during the CNN Presidential Debate - with special programming across all of FOX News Media's key platforms, including FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio and FOX Nation.

The second most viewed presidential debate was in 1980 when Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter appeared on the debate stage in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Convention Center Music Hall opposite one another and 80.6 million Americans tuned in. Questions regarding foreign policy and national security issues, among others, were answered.

"I've had to make thousands of decisions since I've been President, serving in the Oval Office," Carter said , according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum website. "And with each one of those decisions that affect the future of my country, I have learned in the process. I think I'm a much wiser and more experienced man than I was when I debated 4 years ago against President Ford."

In 2016, 84.4 million viewers watched as Trump and Hillary Clinton sparred in a presidential debate.

An audience member asked the two presidential nominees, "Would either of you name one positive thing that you respect in one another?"

Clinton replied, "I respect his children. His children are incredibly able and devoted, and I think that says a lot about Donald. I don't agree with nearly anything else he says or does, but I do respect that."

Trump said of Clinton , "I will say this about Hillary - she doesn't quit. She doesn't give up. I respect that. I tell it like it is. She's a fighter."

Trump went on to win the election.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share What viewers can expect from CNN and news anchors at the CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast

The first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle , pitting President Biden against former President Donald Trump in a 2020 rematch, is taking form.

The debate will be hosted by CNN on Thursday, June 27th at 9 pm EST in Atlanta, with CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash co-moderating the event.

The 90-minute debate will be streamed on Fox News through a CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast that will be available across all of FOX News Media's key platforms, including FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio and FOX Nation.

Both party nominees have agreed to the rules of the debate. In contrast to the 2020 presidential debates, the mic of the candidate who is not up to speak will be muted while the other is talking. Additionally, there will not be a live audience at the debate and the candidates' podiums and positions will be determined by a coin flip.

Posted by Aubrie Spady Share How has Atlanta, Georgia voted in the past?

The CNN presidential debate will be held on Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia and the electoral dynamics of the city and the state itself differ significantly.

Georgia is a key swing state, having been Republican since the 90's until 2020, where it narrowly went for President Biden. It is now a key target for both Biden and former President Trump and could be one of the states that decides the election.

Atlanta itself is significantly more Democratic, with the city and its counties, Fulton County and DeKalb leaning heavily Democratic. If Biden is to win the state and its 16 electoral votes, his path to victory will likely come via heavy turnout in this area.

Both sides have poured money into Georgia, and whoever wins the White House will want this key swing state to appear in their column on Election Day , given the closeness of the vote in 2020.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share Why is the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta?

When President Biden and former President Donald Trump square off for the CNN presidential debate, the location will play an important role.

The debate will take place in Atlanta, Georgia . This is in part because CNN's headquarters are in Atlanta, making it the best fit for the news network to organize a debate that includes significant logistical challenges.

However, Georgia is also one of the top battleground states in the country. Typically a Republican-leaning state in presidential contests, Biden barely won the state in 2020, and it was a crucial victory for his path to 270 electoral votes.

Now, whoever takes the White House will want to seal up Georgia, and like in 2020 it could come down to a small number of voters.

Additionally, 2021 saw the control of the Senate shift to the Democrats through Georgia after Democratic candidates won two runoffs. However, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp won a second term in 2022, indicating the state is still up for grabs for both sides. Both presidential hopefuls have spent heavily in the state.

Posted by Adam Shaw Share How long will the CNN Presidential Debate last?

The CNN Presidential Debate is set to begin at 9:00 p.m. Thursday.

The debate is expected to last for 90 minutes.

President Biden and former President Trump will face off for the showdown and answer questions for voters on top issues from illegal immigration to the economy and beyond.

The two candidates will face off in Atlanta at a debate hosted by CNN — the first time they will meet face to face since their final debate ahead of the 2020 presidential election nearly four years ago.

Americans across the country can tune in to the Fox News Channel from 9:00 p.m. ET to 11:00 p.m. ET to watch the CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast. Viewers can also tune into Fox's live coverage before and after the debate for expert analysis.

Posted by Brooke Singman Share Memorable remarks from presidential debates in history

Hillary Clinton, in a 2016 debate pledge to raise taxes on the wealthy, said, "My Social Security payroll contribution will go up, as will Donald's, assuming he can't figure out how to get out of it." Donald Trump responded, "Such a nasty woman."

During a 2012 debate, Mitt Romney said the U.S. Navy was the smallest it had been since 1917. Barack Obama responded, "We have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military's changed."

During a presidential debate in 1992, when asked a question by an audience member, Bush Sr. memorably checked his watch before answering and seemed to stumble through a response.

In a 1988 debate, former Vice President Dan Quayle declared his experience was comparable to that of Jack Kennedy's. Democrat Lloyd Bentsen responded to the Republican, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

Moderator Bernard Shaw asked Michael Dukakis a graphic hypothetical in a 1988 debate: whether he would favor the death penalty if his wife were raped and murdered. Dukakis answered, "No, I don't, Bernard, and I think you know that I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life."

The Bush-Quayle ticket won the presidency and the latter served as VP to Bush Sr. from 1989 to 1993.

In 1984, during a debate Reagan said, "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience," of former VP to Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale. Reagan's blunt remark earned him cheer and laughter from both the crowd and Mondale.

In 1980, during a primary election debate, Ronald Reagan said to moderator and executive editor of The Telegraph of Nashua, Jon Breen, "I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green" when Breen asked for Reagan's microphone to be turned off.

During a 1960 presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy , Nixon appeared shifty and was excessively sweating while JFK remained calm. Whether Nixon lost the election to JFK due to his body language is still probed today.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share What are the top issues expected to be discussed at the CNN Presidential debate?

President Biden and former President Trump are expected to take the stage Thursday night for the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta, Ga. , and will discuss the top issues that will help voters make their decisions at the ballot box.

Biden and Trump are expected to answer questions on the economy; national security; border security; the Israel-Hamas war; the United States' standing on the world stage; leadership styles and more.

Trump is expected to criticize Biden's policies and highlight his record during the Trump administration, specifically related to the southern border and the economy.

Biden is expected to slam Trump and say the country is in a better place than it was under the former president's leadership.

Biden is likely to highlight his stance on abortion and stress he will protect women's rights, versus Trump's pro-life stance. Trump has said he supports the Supreme Court's ruling that returns the issue of abortion to the states.

Posted by Brooke Singman Share When was the first presidential debate in history?

Debates date all the way back to 1858, though the first was not between two presidential candidates. Former President Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas went head to head in a series of debates for Senate seats, according to the National Park Service.

During the election cycle, the opponents formally and politically sparred in seven debates in Illinois. The first candidate spoke for 60 minutes. Then, the opposing candidate spoke for 90 minutes. Finally, the first candidate would speak again, and rebuttal, for 30 minutes to conclude the debate.

Douglas kicked off the debates in four of the seven arguments.

The first televised presidential debate in American history between candidates wasn't until September 26, 1960 and included Democratic candidate, John F. Kennedy and Republican opponent, Richard Nixon.

The presidential debate aired on CBS was viewed by audiences in black and white. During the debate, Kennedy said, "I don't believe in big government, but I believe in effective governmental action" and issues including the Cold War, education, health care and the economy , among other topics, were addressed by both candidates.

However, in 1956, former Governor of Illinois Adlai Stevenson challenged past U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower to a debate. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and American politician, Margaret Chase Smith stood in for the men and debated political issues, according to the United States Senate website.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share Are presidential candidates required to debate one another?

Participation in presidential debates is not mandatory for candidates. However, it is strategic for candidates to engage, introduce themselves to and appear in front of the American people.

Candidates who are not polling well secure more attention on a big stage. The prime-time showdown between candidates is an opportunity to discuss and argue for or against topics and issues concerning U.S. voters.

Presidential candidates , both Republican and Democrat, leverage debate stages to define themselves, raise campaign funds and express stances on political, economic and social issues.

Though debates may be inconsequential for some American voters, they can certainly be influential for others. To gain the support of American voters, candidates use political advertisements, appearances in swing states and rallies as alternative stops along the campaign trail.

Maneuvers like these, combined with debates, influence the final names on a presidential ticket.

Former President Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden will be addressed by moderators during the CNN Presidential Debate for the first time in the 2024 election cycle.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share What is the purpose of a presidential debate?

The first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle will take place on Thursday evening and will allow former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden to ramp up their efforts to win over American voters .

Thursday night's CNN Presidential Debate - with special programming available across all of FOX News Media's key platforms, including FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio and FOX Nation - will give the candidates an opportunity to lay out their case to voters.

It will also allow the nominees to go head-to-head with one another, challenging other's positions and records and contrasting them with their own. Topics including immigration and border security , among others, are expected Thursday night.

Trump has yet to reveal his running mate for the 2024 presidential election, though he told Fox News' Alexis McAdams that he will be announcing it right around the time of the RNC, which is scheduled for Monday, July 15, in Milwaukee.

"They'll be there," the former president said of his running mate ahead of the CNN Presidential Debate. "I think we have a lot of people coming." Fox News' Adam Shaw contributed to this report.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share Do presidential candidates receive questions ahead of a debate?

Candidates of a presidential debate do not receive questions ahead of time. While current events are surely expected as discussion topics, the precise questions are kept completely secret from candidates.

There has been speculation at times that some presidential candidates have caught wind of questions prior to the start of a debate, but debate moderators, hosting news organizations and politicians have denied it in every case.

So, how does a candidate prepare to answer unknown questions?

Abortion, immigration, border security , the wars between Israel and Hamas and Russia and Ukraine, inflation and student loans, among other topics, are issues Americans are prioritizing under the nose of the 2024 presidential race.

Viewers should expect some, if not all, of these issues to rear their heads during the CNN Presidential Debate .

Because these political issues are quintessential, the candidates will likely warm up responses during mock debates. The way a candidate chooses to answer a question is solely up to them, though.

Qualifiers may aim for vague replies to CNN moderators for questions they prefer to evade.

Posted by Gabriele Regalbuto Share Why does this CNN Presidential Debate matter?

Thursday's CNN Presidential Debate is a critical event for Americans to see how each of the top candidates for president think on their feet about real challenges facing the country.

It's also the first time since September 2020 that President Biden and former President Trump are going to be face-to-face after they participated in only one White House debate in the previous election cycle.

The face-off is not likely to sway undecided voters — this election cycle is unique in that voters know what it's like to live in both Biden and Trump's America.

But in a race where voter turnout will be critical, particularly in several key swing states, a winning performance in the debate could sway otherwise unenthusiastic viewers to go to the ballot box in November. Conversely, a poor performance could also motivate voters to mobilize for the alternative.

Americans will also be watching both Trump , 78, and Biden, 81, for any overt signs of aging after concerns were raised about both men being up to the grueling task of leading the free world at an advanced age.

Posted by Elizabeth Elkind Share How can I watch the Trump, Biden CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast?

On Thursday, June 27, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will face off in the first debate of 2024 and their first rematch since the 2020 election. Hosted by CNN, the debate will air on the network as well as on their relevant streaming outlets and website. USA Today will air the debate on their Youtube channel and ABC will air the debate on their network.

Fox News will simulcast the debate from 9-11 EST. Jesse Waters will kick off the CNN Presidential Debate's preview coverage at 7:00 PM with chief political anchor Bret Baier, and anchor Martha MacCallum will take the reins at 8:00 pm EST. Immediately after the debate, Sean Hannity will host live from the spin room in Atlanta to analyze the event coverage and gauge the public's reaction to the debate. From 8:30 on, Foxnews.com will livestream coverage of the debate from the Fox Network simulcast.

Watch with Fox News Go!

Posted by Matteo Cina Share