Ahead of the first and (thus far) only 2024 presidential debate tonight, ABC revealed the official rules that Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have agreed on as the only two candidates to qualify under established criteria.
Airing for roughly 90 minutes, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET, “Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – ABC News Presidential Debate,” the special broadcast will air live on ABC and stream live on the 24/7 streaming network ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu, and is available for simulcast across several networks and media outlets, including CBS, NBC and FOX, among others.
The debate is set to take place at the National Constitution Center (525 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106) with “World News Tonight” anchor and managing editor David Muir and “World News Tonight” Sunday anchor and ABC News Live “Prime” anchor Linsey Davis serving as moderators.
ABC will air a primetime pre- and post-debate special, “ABC News Presidential Debate – Race for the White House,” anchored by chief global affairs correspondent and “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz, chief Washington correspondent and “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl, chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce and senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott featuring ABC News’ powerhouse political team including, chief national correspondent Matt Gutman, chief business, technology and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis, senior national correspondent Terry Moran, senior foreign correspondent Ian Pannell, senior White House correspondent Selina Wang, correspondents María Elena Salinas and Mireya Villareal, and contributors Donna Brazile, Chris Christie and Reince Priebus. The pre-debate special will air at 8:00 p.m. ET and the post-debate special will begin immediately following the end of the debate.
Jeff Lipsky/ABC
On Wednesday, September 11, “Good Morning America” and “GMA3: What You Need to Know,” among other ABC News programs and platforms, will bring viewers the latest news and analysis from the presidential debate. Additionally, “The View” will also air live with “Hot Topics” and reactions to the debate.
What follows is s a breakdown of the debate rules as outlined by ABC News:
- The debate will be 90 minutes with two commercial breaks.
- The two seated moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, will be the only people asking questions.
- A coin flip was held virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 3, to determine podium placement and order of closing statements; former President Donald Trump won the coin toss and chose to select the order of statements. The former president will offer the last closing statement, and Vice President Harris selected the right podium position on screen (stage left).
- Candidates will be introduced by the moderators.
- The candidates enter upon introduction from opposite sides of the stage; the incumbent party will be introduced first.
- No opening statements; closing statements will be two minutes per candidate.
- Candidates will stand behind podiums for the duration of the debate.
- Props or prewritten notes are not allowed onstage.
- No topics or questions will be shared in advance with campaigns or candidates.
- Candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water.
- Candidates will have two-minute answers to questions, two-minute rebuttals, and one extra minute for follow-ups, clarifications, or responses.
- Candidates’ microphones will be live only for the candidate whose turn it is to speak and muted when the time belongs to another candidate.
- Candidates will not be permitted to ask questions of each other.
- Campaign staff may not interact with candidates during commercial breaks.
- Moderators will seek to enforce timing agreements and ensure a civilized discussion.
- There will be no audience in the room.
Marc Burstein is senior executive producer, and Molly Shaker is executive producer of ABC News Special Events. Seni Tienabeso is executive director of ABC News Live. Simone Swink is the executive producer of the pre- and post-debate special.