The candidates for the presidency of the United States, Joe Biden and Donald Trumpthey will cross swords in a few hours at first debate ahead of the presidential election in November, which will be hosted by CNN.

For the first time in US history there will be a debate between a sitting president and a former president.

The debate will start at 9pm on Thursday (04:00 on Friday morning in Greece) and will last 90 minutes. It will be moderated by American journalists Jake Tapper and Dana Bass and will be held at CNN’s main studios in Atlanta.

Terms and rules

This debate breaks with the tradition of the past with a new set of rules. Typically, presidential debates were held in front of a live audience, often on a college or university campus.

This time the two candidates asked for no public participation in the debate to avoid applause and boos, while agreeing to a set of rules. In particular, they agreed that the microphone of the candidate who has no reason to stay closed, in order not to interrupt. Also, candidates are not allowed to bring written notes. They will receive a pen and paper, as well as a bottle of water.

Two commercial breaks are scheduled. Candidates will have two minutes to answer each question, during breaks they will not be able to speak to their advisers and staff.

A coin toss determined the positions on the podium and the order of the final statements. According to reports, Biden’s team will be at the podium on the right, while Trump’s team will make the final statement at the end of the night.

The weights

The debate comes about a month after the unprecedented conviction of Donald Trump, who became the first US president to be convicted of a felony. In fact, on July 11, the announcement of his sentence by Judge Merchan of Manhattan for the case of Stormy Daniels is expected.

On the other hand, Biden’s son, Hunter, was found guilty in Delaware of illegally purchasing a gun after concealing his drug use. He is the first child of a sitting President to be prosecuted in the United States. The son of the US President will be tried again in September, in California for tax evasion. The case will remind voters of Hunter’s highly lucrative role on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, but American analysts estimate that “the political consequences of Hunter Biden’s conviction in the November election will not be significant.”

Biden, who is trailing Trump in the polls, is expected to be called upon to address concerns about his age and his ability to serve a second four-year term. At 81, he is the oldest President in US history and if elected for a second term, he will leave the White House at the age of 86. The 78-year-old Trump has repeatedly criticized Biden with insulting characteristics, stressing that he is “mentally unfit” for President, but also that he must pass a cognitive ability test.

According to American media, on political issues, the candidates are expected to discuss the state of the economy, immigration policy, abortion and democracy in the country. The candidates are also likely to touch on foreign policy as voters remain divided over whether the US should continue sending military aid to Ukraine and Israel.

Biden is also expected to verbally attack Trump for past actions, including his role in the riot at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The big bet for the American president, according to his associates, is his body language and physical strength. To show – as they say – that his age is not an issue for his re-election.

The Democratic president’s staff are sure that Trump will attack the Biden family, especially Hunter, and for this reason Joe Biden has been feverishly preparing for days at Camp David.

The top Biden campaign official helping the President prepare is Ron Klein, a former White House chief of staff who oversaw the preparation of Biden’s State of the Nation address last March. It is noted that Klein has “coached” Al Gore, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for a presidential debate.

Meanwhile, Trump’s “camp” is taking a more relaxed approach to debate preparation than in 2020. Trump has held a series of meetings with US senators and advisers in recent weeks, mostly at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida to discuss the policy issues he will seek to raise in the debate.

Among the participants were US Senators Jay D. Vance and Marco Rubio, as well as Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to Trump during his presidency known for his hardline stance on immigration. Marco Rubio, according to sources, has been upgraded and in the event of Trump’s victory in the elections, he will assume a critical position.

Trump aides say he will seek to hold Biden “accountable” for his administration’s missteps on immigration and inflation, as well as his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Trump reportedly sees the debate as a show. The former president’s goal is to win impressions and convince Americans that a second term in the White House will be better than the previous one, while he is not very interested in discussing the important issues. “For Trump, it is enough to make an impression”, reports American media.

However, in terms of polling momentum so far, the conviction of Trump has led to only marginal fluctuations, while the conviction of Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, has already found itself on the fringes of the news. Polls show more voters trust Trump than Biden on the issues that matter most to them, giving the Republican candidate a communications edge.

Trump, according to information, will soon announce his choice for vice-presidential candidate. There will also be a debate between vice-presidential candidates, the date of which has not been finalized, but current US vice-president Kamala Harris has agreed to take place on July 23 or August 13.

The next debate between Trump and Biden will be held on September 10.