Coin Flip Decision: Here’s Who Will Open And Close In Trump Vs. Biden Debate

The decision is in.

CNN initiated a coin flip to decide positions and speaking order in the first presidential debate between Trump and Biden in 2024.

The coin landed on Biden’s campaign pick of tails, and the Biden campaign chose to select the right side podium.

The Trump campaign selected the speaking order and chose Biden to speak first, which means Trump will give the last remarks of the debate.

The debate is set to kick off on June 27th.

One June 27th, in front of the whole world, President Trump is going to dig President Biden’s grave.

President Biden will take the right podium position at CNN's presidential debate after his campaign won a coin flip, and Trump will get the last word https://t.co/kRD5hyWxfO

— Malcolm Davis (@MalcolmDavisGA) June 20, 2024

CNN broke the story:

Former President Donald Trump will get the final word when he debates President Joe Biden on CNN next week, after a coin flip to determine podium placement and the order of closing statements.

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The coin landed on the Biden campaign’s pick — tails — which meant his campaign got to choose whether it wanted to select the president’s podium position or the order of closing statements.

Biden’s campaign chose to select the right podium position, which means the Democratic president will be on the right side of television viewers’ screens and his Republican rival will be on viewers’ left.

Trump’s campaign then chose for the former president to deliver the last closing statement, which means Biden will go first at the conclusion of the debate.

Biden and Trump are set to make history on June 27 in the first presidential debate between an incumbent and a former president. It will also be the first debate since 2020 featuring either Biden, who did not face a serious challenge for the Democratic nomination, or Trump, who skipped those held during the Republican primary race.

CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will host the 90-minute showdown in Atlanta. Both candidates have accepted the network’s invitation and agreed to accept the rules and format of the debate, as outlined in letters sent to the campaigns by the network in May.

Trump will get the final word when he debates President Biden on CNN next week, after a coin flip to determine podium placement and the order of closing statements. https://t.co/utbSQXZGcV

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 20, 2024

Per The Hill:

Former President Trump will have the final word in next week’s first presidential debate after a coin toss, CNN announced Thursday.

The Biden campaign won the coin toss, selecting tails, and choosing to pick the president’s standing position instead of reserving a speaking slot. Biden will stand on the right side of the stage from the viewer’s perspective, and Trump the left.

Trump’s campaign decided to select to speak last, meaning Biden will be the first to give his closing argument.
Biden and Trump will be the only two candidates on the debate stage next Thursday night in Atlanta, CNN announced. Anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper have been selected as the moderators.

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Microphones will be muted throughout the debate except when it’s that candidate’s turn to speak. The moderators will also be able to “use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion,” per the rules.