The upcoming debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will not have an audience, live microphones when candidates aren’t speaking, or written notes. ABC News, the host network, shared the rules with both campaigns, which are essentially the same as those for the June debate between Trump and President Joe Biden. This debate could be the only time voters see Harris and Trump go head to head before the November general election. The Harris campaign is still discussing the muting of mics with ABC, while Trump’s handlers insisted on muting him despite the candidate’s wishes.
There has been ongoing debate and negotiation over the rules and format of the upcoming debate, particularly regarding whether the microphones would be muted between turns speaking. Harris’ campaign advocated for live microphones throughout the debate, while Trump’s team insisted on muting him. Biden’s campaign had made microphone muting a condition for agreeing to any debates this year, a decision that some aides now regret as it shielded voters from hearing Trump’s outbursts during the last debate. Despite the back-and-forth, the rules for the upcoming debate are set, with no opening statements, no notes allowed, and the candidates standing behind lecterns.
Representatives for Trump initially scoffed at the idea of debating Harris instead of Biden, as the original agreement was with Biden. They claimed that Harris had pushed for a seated debate, with notes, and opening statements, which her campaign denied. The debate will be moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and will last for 90 minutes. The rules for this debate mirror those of the previous one between Trump and Biden, which was seen as a disastrous performance for Trump and contributed to his exit from the campaign. The lack of audience and restrictions on the debate format may impact how the candidates are able to engage with each other and present their views to voters.
The debate between Harris and Trump is currently the only one that has been firmly scheduled, raising the stakes for both candidates as it could be the only opportunity for voters to see them directly engage with each other before the November general election. The restrictions on the debate format, including no opening statements and no notes, may impact how the candidates are able to communicate their positions and engage in substantive exchanges. Both campaigns have expressed differing opinions on the rules, with Harris’ campaign advocating for live microphones while Trump’s team insists on muting him. The outcome of this debate could have significant implications for the campaign and may shape the narrative leading up to the election.
The ongoing negotiations and disagreements over the rules for the debate highlight the tensions and differences between the two campaigns and the candidates themselves. The decision to mute microphones and restrict certain elements of the debate format reflects a desire to control the narrative and ensure a more substantive exchange between the candidates. Despite the challenges and restrictions imposed by the rules, both Harris and Trump will have to adapt and make the most of this opportunity to present their platforms and engage with voters. The outcome of the debate could have a significant impact on the trajectory of the campaign and the candidates’ standing with voters as they head into the final stretch before the election.
