How to Watch Tonight’s Biden-Trump Presidential Debate Online Without Cable

Danielle Directo-Meston

27 June 2024 at 2:06 pm·4-min read

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will finally face off at CNN’s Atlanta headquarters in the 2024 election cycle’s first presidential debate between the Democratic and Republican nominees.

Airing tonight on CNN and other major cable channels, the 90-minute debate will be moderated by network anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. The event will not include a live audience “to ensure candidates may maximize the time allotted,” according to CNN. While the debates are usually held in the fall, tonight’s event marks the first time such an event takes place this early in the year.

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At a Glance: How to Watch Biden-Trump Presidential Debate

When June 27 at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET
Channel CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, Fox, Univision, PBS, Fox News, The CW
Stream online DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Max, Sling, YouTube

Watch CNN on FUBO

Though Trump did not participate in the 2024 GOP primary debates, the former president — who was found guilty in May in his criminal hush money trial — is the party’s presumptive presidential nominee and is expected to be officially nominated at the Republican National Convention from July 15-18.

The second presidential debate between Biden and Trump is scheduled for Sept. 10 and will air on ABC.

Keep reading to find out how to watch the Biden-Trump presidential debate online with and without cable, including for free.

How to Watch Biden vs. Trump Presidential Debate: Date, Time

The debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump airs live on CNN on Thursday, June 27, at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET. It will also be broadcast on CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Fox, Univision, PBS, Fox News and The CW.

CNN, PBS and other networks will livestream the debate on their YouTube channels.

How to Stream Biden vs. Trump Presidential Debate Online With Cable

Cable subscribers can stream the presidential debate online on CNN directly through their provider’s smart TV or mobile apps or at CNN.com by logging in with their account credentials, including traditional and streaming services such as DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Verizon, Xfinity and others.

How to Watch Biden vs. Trump Presidential Debate Online Without Cable

Cord-cutters can watch the Biden-Trump presidential debate online with any live TV streaming service that carries CNN and other networks broadcasting the event, including DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Max and Sling. Select cable streamers are also offering free trials; keep reading below to learn more about each option.

How to Watch Biden vs. Trump Presidential Debate Online for Free

EDITOR'S CHOICE

DirecTV Stream

Packages from $69.99 per month

get directv free trial

Watch the Biden vs. Trump debate online on CNN for free with a five-day free trial to DirecTV Stream, which starts at $69.99 per month for the Entertainment package. The cable streamer offers more than 75 other channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Disney Channel, E!, MSNBC, Nickelodeon and others.

Other plans offer over 105-150 channels, with prices ranging from $89.99 to $159.99 per month. For a limited time, new subscribers can also save up to $240; learn more here.

BEST VALUE

Fubo

Packages from $79.99 per month

Try Fubo for Free

Fubo also carries CNN and offers a seven-day trial, allowing new subscribers to watch the Biden vs. Trump presidential debate for free. The cable streamer carries over 180 other news, entertainment and sports channels, and subscriptions start at $79.99 per month for the Pro package. You can record over 1,000 hours of TV shows, movies, games and more (including Monday, Thursday and Sunday night football) and watch later on your smartphone, tablet or TV.

Other plans include the Elite package (255 channels for $89.99 monthly) and the Premier tier that comes with 264 channels, NFL RedZone, Showtime and 4K quality for $99.99 monthly.

BEST LIVE TV STREAMING BUNDLE

Hulu + Live TV

Packages from $76.99 per month

Get Hulu + live TV, disney+ & ESPN+

Watch the presidential debate on CNN for free with a three-day trial to Hulu + Live TV, which comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, starting at $76.99 per month. Available with or without ads, the live TV streamer also carries ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 90 other major cable news, entertainment and sports channels.

BEST FOR HBO SERIES

Max

Try Max for free

You can also stream the Biden-Trump debate on CNN through Max, as both companies share parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. Max starts at $9.99 per month with ads; learn more here.

MOST AFFORDABLE STREAMING SERVICE

Sling

Packages on sale from $22.50 per month

Get 50% off Sling

You can also watch the debate on CNN using Sling, which starts at $20 for the first month for a limited time for eligible new subscribers. The streamer carries more than 40 other channels, including NBC, Fox News, MSNBC and other entertainment, news and sports networks.

Biden vs. Trump Presidential Debate: More Ways to Watch for Free

If you prefer not to watch on TV or through a cable streamer, the Biden-Trump debate will also be livestreamed for free by CNN, PBS and other networks through their YouTube channels.

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