The first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden will take place tonight, live from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Given the concern over Covid-19, the debate will take place in partnership with Cleveland Clinic serving in an advisory role on health and safety procedures for each presidential debate.
Here is everything you need to know to watch the debate tonight including start time, live streams, debate topics, and what channels to look for on your cable or satellite service.
First 2020 Presidential Debate
Candidates: President Donald J. Trump and Former Vice President Joe R. Biden
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Time: 9 pm ET (8 pm CT, 7 pm MT, 6 pm PT)
Channel: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and more!
Location: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Moderator: Chris Wallace, Fox News Host
The debate will begin at 9 pm ET and last for 90 minutes, wrapping up around 10:30 pm ET. The debate will air live in all time zones.
Debate Live Stream
Here is a live stream of the first presidential debate along with several links to live streams from other media outlets.
Alternate Live Stream Links: Fox News (YouTube), CBS News (YouTube), ABC News (YouTube)
Debate Topics
As previously announced, the debate will be split into six segments of 15 minutes each covering the following topics:
- The Trump and Biden Records
- The Supreme Court
- Covid-19
- The Economy
- Race and Violence in our Cities
- The Integrity of the Election
How to Watch
On TV: The debate will be airing live on every major broadcast channel and cable news channel including CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN, and various others.
Streaming: The live debate stream is embedded above directly on this page. The debate will also be available on Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices by searching for debate or choosing the featured debate icon on your home screen.
On Radio: The debate will air on NPR radio stations nationwide and many local talk radio stations. Check iHeartRadio.com for a station to stream or listen to on your AM/FM radio.
Upcoming Debates
Visit the 2020 Presidential Debate schedule page for full details on the remaining presidential debates and the vice presidential debate:
Vice Presidential Debate
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
9 pm to 10:30 pm ET
Moderator: Susan Page (USA Today)
Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris
The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Second Presidential Debate
Thursday, October 15, 2020
9 pm to 10:30 pm ET
Moderator: Steve Scully (C-SPAN)
President Trump and Former Vice President Joe Biden
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, FL
Third Presidential Debate
Thursday, October 22, 2020
9 pm to 10:30 pm ET
Moderator: Kristen Welker (NBC News)
President Trump and Former Vice President Joe Biden
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Bookmark and follow the presidential debate schedule for further details.
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