LIVE: Biden returns to Atlanta for first of two debates with Trump

The Voice of Atlanta was part of the presidential press corps Thursday that met with U.S. President Joseph R. Biden hours before he met with former U.S. President Donald J. Trump for the first of two debates. The first was inside Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion in Midtown. Biden is returning to Atlanta after delivering the commencement address at Morehouse College in May.

The Biden-Harris administration has made several appearances in Atlanta this year, including several solo appearances by United States Vice President Kamala Harris as recently as mid-June for a gun violence awareness discussion with former Migos member Quavo.

3:15 p.m. – Air Force One lands at Dobbins Air Force Base and President Biden is greeted on the tarmac by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and two-time Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, among others. Biden took a moment to speak with each of them before leaving and joining the presidential motorcade.

3:43 p.m. On the corner of Baker Street in downtown Atlanta, dozens of Biden supporters held signs and shouted “Let’s Go Joe,” “Four more years,” and “If you’re happy and you know it, vote for Joe.” Biden came out to shake hands and sign autographs. The organized rally spilled into the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta hotel, where more Biden-Harris supporters were waiting.

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