CNN is scheduled to host the first 2024 presidential debate Thursday night, and CEO Mark Thompson wanted to return debates to a more simplistic format.
“I wanted a return to a very simple, classical format,” Thompson told The New York Times while mentioning the famous 1960 televised debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon as inspiration for the network’s decisions on rules and format for the high-profile event.
During Thursday’s debate between former President Donald Trump (R) and President Joe Biden (D), the microphones of the non-answerer will be muted. No live audience will be in attendance. CNN is also bucking decades of precedent by featuring commercial breaks during the 90-minute debate. During those breaks, candidates will not be able to consult with their campaign staff.
Many conservatives have questioned why Trump would agree to a debate with such rules, and have also questioned why he would welcome a debate on a network like CNN. Charges of political bias have been lobbied against the network since his rise to the presidency in 2016.
Thompson said that while he’s happy both campaigns agreed to the debate, the network plans to let Trump and Biden be the stars of the show.
“The fact that we got it was something of a moment for us,” Thompson said. “Much of the reaction of the public, the rest of the media, and other politicians is going to depend on President Trump and President Biden, who are the stars of the show.”
