Tim Walz and JD Vance prepare to take the stage in New York City

Donald Trump will tell the truth during the debate

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As the vice presidential candidates prepare for the duel, their fellow candidates will join in – and in Trump’s case, he will provide live commentary.

“President Trump will be live throughout the entire debate, TRUTH TO TRUTH!” Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s national press secretary, tells PEOPLE.

Harris’ campaign has not confirmed where she will be watching from.

Tom Emmer and Pete Buttigieg helped the candidates prepare

6 minutes ago

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Walz and Vance have spent a lot of time rehearsing for Tuesday night, and sources familiar with both sides’ preparation tell PEOPLE that they have enlisted some high-profile friends to help.

Walz asked Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to step into Vance’s shoes and help him practice. Buttigieg — who also helped Kamala Harris prepare for her 2020 vice presidential debate — is one of the sharpest political communicators in the Democratic Party and has a similar background to Vance: They are both Midwesterners, Ivy League graduates and military veterans.

Vance, meanwhile, asked Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer for help. Emmer is the House Majority Leader, making him a professional representative of the Republican platform. Emmer previously served alongside Walz in Congress and said he studied Walz’s previous interviews and debates to be able to emulate the Democrat’s speaking style in rehearsals.

Here’s how to watch the vice president debate

13 minutes ago

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The debate, moderated by CBS News, will take place from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET and can be watched in full on CBS News. It will also be available to stream on CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+.

Additionally, the debate will be simulcast on most other networks and streaming platforms, including PBS News, C-SPAN, NewsNation and Fox News.

Are vice president debates important?

16 minutes ago

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Vice presidential debates are not known for being deciding factors in White House elections, and today’s broadcast will be just a drop in the bucket that impacts Americans’ votes. Still, there’s reason to believe the stakes are higher than normal in this year’s vice presidential debate.

Perhaps more than ever, vice presidential candidates are being seriously scrutinized as potential future presidents. The importance of a strong vice president became clear when Harris unexpectedly replaced Joe Biden in the presidential primary in July and after the oldest presidential candidate in history – Trump – survived two assassination attempts on the campaign trail. Voters realize that vice presidents are just a heartbeat away from the Oval Office, and in a race where both candidates are still introducing themselves to the world, a prime-time stage can make all the difference.

The 2024 election also appears to be a nail-biter, with only a handful of votes in an important battleground state able to determine the winner. Vice presidential nominations may typically be an afterthought when voters cast their ballots, but a disastrous performance or an overwhelmingly strong showing from Walz or Vance could leave a lasting impression on Americans.