Will there be a second presidential debate? If so, when?

Victor Hagan, USA TODAY

If all goes as planned, President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump will have their second presidential debate in just over nine weeks.

ABC News will host the presidential candidates as they face off for a final time on Sept. 10, moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis, but a location has yet to be confirmed.

(L to R) ABC News anchors David Muir, Linsey Davis and George Stephanopoulos speak to the audience before the eighth Democratic 2020 presidential debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire on February 7, 2020.
(L to R) ABC News anchors David Muir, Linsey Davis and George Stephanopoulos speak to the audience before the eighth Democratic 2020 presidential debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire on February 7, 2020.

Qualifications for the second debate are similar to the first, including candidates receiving at least 15% in four separate national polls, appearing on enough state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold, and agreeing to accept the debate's rules and format, which have yet to be announced.

What time does the debate start?

The debate will be held on Sept. 10 at 9 p.m. EDT, but who will be on stage remains a question.

Despite some Democrats' worries about Biden's future in the campaign following his first debate performance on CNN, he does not plan to drop out of the race. A Biden campaign adviser told USA TODAY on June 28 that the president is committed to participating in a second debate against Trump.

As of now, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will not be in attendance.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Will there be a vice-presidential debate?

Vice President Kamala Harris announced in May that she would be willing to debate the Trump administration's vice presidential pick. CBS will host the debate this summer without a live audience.

As previously reported by USA TODAY, Trump has yet to name his vice presidential running mate and isn't expected to until closer to the Republican National Convention, set for July 15 to July 18. The Trump campaign has not confirmed whether it has also agreed to CBS' invitation.

Victor Hagan is the Alabama Election Reporting Fellow for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at vhagan@gannett.com or on X @TheVictorHagan. To support his work, subscribe to the Advertiser.

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