Biden, Trump, CNN agree on debate rules, format

Ten days before they meet, the current and former presidents of the United States have cut a final deal on the format, timing and rules of their first debate on June 27 in Atlanta.

CNN confirms that the campaigns of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to a set of rules that have never been used in past debates, including no audience, no notes, no help from aides and no interrupting the other man.

To enforce the “no interruption” rule, CNN will mute the microphone of one candidate while the other is speaking. The hope is to avoid the chaotic scene of the first 2020 debate when Trump constantly interrupted and ridiculed Biden to the point where he finally said, “Will you shut up, man?”