Joe Biden and Donald Trump arrive in Atlanta for CNN presidential debate

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both arrived in Atlanta for tonight’s CNN debate, an event that many predicted would flop when it was first announced last month.

Biden arrived around 3:15 p.m. ET and greeted an entourage that included former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young and Stacy Abrams. Also seen, according to a pool report: Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is co-chairman of the campaign.

Biden later greeted supporters in downtown Atlanta, hugging Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), who is one of his campaign representatives.

Trump’s plane landed around 5:30 p.m. ET, and he waved and gave cheering supporters a thumbs-up.

Both Trump and Biden cautiously descended the steps of their respective planes, as any slip or fall would quickly overshadow the vigorous images they are trying to convey in the run-up to the event.

The candidates will face off at 9 p.m. ET, for a 90-minute debate hosted by CNN in its Atlanta studios. But the network is also making its feed available to other broadcast, cable and streaming networks, meaning the event will have the same wall-to-wall reach as previous general election showdowns.

Most media outlets will cover the debate in and around the McCamish Pavilion, where CNN has set up a press depot and a red-carpeted filming room, with the network’s logo plastered throughout the facility.

The network rebuffed rumors that the debate would be delayed by one to two minutes to allow for editing. “That’s not true. The debate will begin live at 9 p.m. But there have been a series of rumors about the event, some spread by Trump and his allies, that Biden is using performance-enhancing drugs. Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about the claim and told reporters, “I don’t think I should dignify that with a response.”

Other Biden guests in the broadcast room tonight include Mary Trump, the former president’s niece; California Governor Gavin Newsom; Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX); former Rep. Cedric Richmond and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

Among those spotted so far for Trump: Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL).