CNN did NOT Implement a 1-2 Minute Delay for the First Presidential Debate(2024) in USA

Live broadcasting of presidential debates is a modern and valuable tradition in the USA, promoting transparency and informed voting. However, misleading posts circulating on social media often distort information about the debate process, potentially confusing the public.

Social Media Posts 

Social media posts claim that CNN planned to use a 1—to 2-minute broadcast delay during the first 2024 presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to edit parts of the broadcast, as seen below.

FB | Archived 

FB | Archived 

FB | Archived 

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check 

Origin of the Claim:

The claim originated from a social media post by Patrick Webb (@RealPatrickWebb) on X (formerly Twitter), stating that CNN would implement a 1- to 2-minute delay for the debate. The post received significant attention, with over 2 million views and thousands of engagements.

CNN’s Response:

Shortly after Webb’s post, CNN Communications (@CNNPR) responded directly to X, labelling the claim as false. CNN stated that the debate would start airing at 9 PM ET as planned, without any additional delay.

Debate Broadcast:

The debate aired live as scheduled on CNN at 9 PM ET. Viewers and various media outlets confirmed that there was no noticeable delay beyond the standard broadcast delay, which is typically around 7 seconds for live television.

Misinformation Spread:

Despite CNN’s prompt refutation, the false claims continued to circulate on social media. Such misinformation can undermine public trust in media institutions and the democratic process.

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Conclusion:

The claim that CNN planned to use a 1- to 2-minute delay during the first 2024 presidential debate is false. CNN promptly refuted the claim, and the debate aired live as scheduled without any extended delay. Social media users should verify the credibility of information and rely on official sources to avoid the spread of misinformation.