Biden Heads to Camp David to Prepare for Upcoming Debate With Trump

President Donald Trump (L) and Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden during the final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 22, 2020. Brendan Smialowski and Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

President Joe Biden is traveling to Camp David on June 20, to begin preparations for his debate with former President Donald Trump next week.

The two candidates will square off for the first time this election on CNN on June 27, giving the sitting president a week to prepare after making two trips to Europe for the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France, and the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in southern Italy.

In addition, he has had two campaign events, including a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles with former President Barack Obama.

CNN confirmed on June 20 that only President Biden and former President Donald Trump qualified for the debate, leaving out the independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“My exclusion by Presidents Biden and Trump from the debate is undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly,” Mr. Kennedy said in a statement on June 20.

Former President Trump will have the final word in the debate, which means President Biden will go first in the concluding stage.

After winning the coin toss, President Biden chose his position on the stage. He picked the right podium on the right side of the TV viewers’ screen. Former President Trump will be on the left.

Both candidates agreed to having their mics muted by the network to avoid talking over each other.

While President Biden’s complete schedule for the upcoming week hasn’t been released yet, he is expected to spend most of the days leading up to the debate at Camp David.

Several members of his cabinet and senior White House officials have been dispatched across the country until the debate date to highlight the president’s economic plan, particularly his cost-cutting measures.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president will continue to be briefed during his stay at Camp David.

“As we say many times, the president could be president anywhere,” she said during a press briefing on June 18. “We have the infrastructure to do just that.”

Camp David is located just north of Washington and has been used by several presidents in the past for debate preparations, including former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

President Biden also went to Camp David to prepare for his most recent State of the Union Address in February.

CNN revealed on June 15 that the debate would last 90 minutes and include two commercial breaks during which the candidates cannot interact with their campaign staff.

No pre-written notes or props will be allowed, but the candidates will have a pen and paper to take notes during the debate.

There will be no studio audience for the debate, which will be held in Atlanta.

The debate will be moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who the network said “will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion.”

A second debate is already scheduled for Sept. 10.

Tom Ozimek and the Associated Press contributed to this report.