Will tonight's presidential debate be a repeat of 2020? Here's what Chris Wallace said

James Powel and Kinsey Crowley

June 27, 2024 at 6:32 p.m.·2 min read

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to debate for the first time in the 2024 election cycle Thursday night and the person who conducted the pair's unruly first debate in 2020 provided an insight to how this round might be different.

CNN personality Chris Wallace suggested on "The Source with Kaitlin Collins" that Trump may change tactics in the first debate of the 2024 presidential election.

"I’ve talked to a lot of people in the top echelons of his staff. They say he finally understands how badly he did in the 2020 debate," Wallace said. "The two words that are coming out ― you don’t usually hear from the Trump camp ― are ‘nice’ and ‘respectful.'"

Wallace moderated the first debate in 2020 when he was an anchor at Fox News. That debate provided multiple campaign changing moments.

Presidential debate live updates: Trump and Biden in Atlanta for 9 p.m. EST debate

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6.26.24 915 pm ET CNN Anchor, Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins w/ In Alphabetical Order:

CNN Special Correspondent, Jamie Gangel @jamiegangel

CNN Senior Political Commentator, Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY

CNN Political Commentator, Van Jones @VanJones68

CNN Chief… pic.twitter.com/F2MGLJfBHr
— Jeff Storobinsky (@jeffstorobinsky) June 27, 2024

Here's what happened when Wallace moderated the first Presidential debate in 2020.

Highlights from the first debate in 2020

Debate moderator and then Fox News anchor Chris Wallace directs the first 2020 presidential campaign debate between U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden held on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., September 29, 2020.

‘Will you shut up, man?’

Who said it: Biden

Context: The first debate was notably tense, with both candidates interrupting each other and sparring over their answers.

During a lengthy discussion on health care, Biden shook his head and said, "Will you shut up, man?" adding "This is so unpresidential."

Trump also accused Biden of being socialist, and Biden shot back with "I am the Democratic Party right now."

First Presidential debate: What to know about the Biden-Trump face off

'Proud boys: stand back and stand by'

Who said it: Trump

Context: Moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News asked Trump directly to condemn white supremacists, and Biden offered the Proud Boys, labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, as an example of one.

"Proud boys: stand back and stand by," Trump responded. "But I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem."

Response: Trump drew bipartisan backlash for the comments, but later claimed he did not know who the Proud Boys are.

When is the first Presidential debate?

The "CNN Presidential Debate" is scheduled for Thursday at 9 p.m ET/6 p.m. PT. It will air on CNN and be hosted by network personalities Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

You can also watch the "CNN Presidential Debate" via simulcast on USA TODAY's YouTube channel.

Watch the first Presidential debate

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First presidential debate: What former moderator Chris Wallace said

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Highlights from the first debate in 2020

‘Will you shut up, man?’

'Proud boys: stand back and stand by'

When is the first Presidential debate?

Watch the first Presidential debate

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