Joe Biden And Donald Trump Arrive In Atlanta For CNN Presidential Debate

Ted Johnson

27 June 2024 at 5:49 pm·2-min read

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have each arrived in Atlanta for this evening’s CNN debate, an event that many predicted would unravel when it was first announced last month.

Biden arrived at about 3:15 p.m. ET, and greeted an entourage that included former UN ambassador Andrew Young and Stacy Abrams. Also spotted, per a pool report: Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is serving as campaign co-chair.

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Later, Biden greeted supporters in downtown Atlanta, hugging Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), who is serving as one of the campaign surrogates.

Trump’s plane landed at about 5:30 p.m. ET, and he waved and gave a fist sign to cheering supporters.

Both Trump and Biden carefully descended the steps from their respective aircraft — as any kind of slip or fall would quickly overshadow the vigorous images they are trying to convey in the lead-up to the event.

CNN’s spin room was set up in McCamish Pavilion, a Georgia Tech arena near the network’s studios, where the debate will take place.

The candidates will face each other at 9 p.m. ET, for a 90-minute debate that is hosted by CNN at their Atlanta studios. But the network also is making its feed available to other broadcast, cable and streaming outlets, meaning that the event will have the similar wall-to-wall reach of past general election matchups.

Most media will be reporting on the debate in and near McCamish Pavilion, where CNN has set up a press filing center and a red carpeted spin room, with the network’s logo plastered throughout the facility.

The network pushed back against rumors that the debate would have a one- to two- minute delay to allow for editing. “This is false. The debate will begin live at 9 pm.” But there have been a series of rumors about the event, some being spread by Trump and his allies that Biden would be using performance enhancing drugs. Earlier today, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about the claim and told reporters, “I don’t think that I should dignify that with an answer.”

Other Biden guests in the spin room this evening will include Mary Trump, the niece of the former president; California Governor Gavin Newsom; Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX); former Rep. Cedric Richmond and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

Among those spotted so far for Trump: Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL).

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