Biden demands no audience for debates with Trump

Joe Biden and Donald Trump have agreed to two debates taking place on June 27 on CNN and September 10 on ABC News.

Ahead of the two candidates agreeing to the dates Wednesday morning, Biden campaign Communications Director Michael Tyler told CNN that the debates should be "in studio with no audience so the candidates can clearly articulate their visions for the country."

When asked if an audience was a "deal breaker" for the Biden campaign, Tyler deflected and said, "Listen, it’s Donald Trump who said he would do this anytime, anywhere, anyplace. So I don’t think that they should have any problems with what we propose. He’s the one who said he’s ready to go."

The CNN debate, taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, will have no audience. The outlet wrote in a press release, "to ensure candidates may maximize time allotted in the debate, no audience will be present." It is currently unclear whether the ABC debate will have an audience.

The campaign said debates have been "structured like an entertainment spectacle and not a serious exchange of ideas that reflect the enormous stakes of the election," and the upcoming debates should not have a live audience full of "raucous or disruptive partisans and donors, who consume valuable debate time with noisy spectacles of approval or jeering," according to ABC News.

Biden's demand for no audience was called out by users on X.