Vice President Kamala Harris has agreed to the rules for the upcoming debate with former President Donald Trump, which include muting the candidates’ microphones when it’s not their turn to speak. Despite accepting the terms, Harris believes that this format will put her at a disadvantage during the debate. The decision to mute microphones was made in response to concerns raised after Trump’s outbursts during a previous debate in June, which led to a poor performance and his exit from the campaign.
Harris initially advocated for live microphones throughout the debate to allow for substantive exchanges between the candidates. However, her campaign ultimately agreed to the muted microphone rule after concerns that Trump might skip the debate if his preferred format was not followed. The decision was made to avoid jeopardizing the debate and ensure that it goes on as planned.
An official from Harris’ campaign revealed that during moments when a candidate’s microphone is turned off, a pool of journalists will be present to hear any remarks the muted candidate may be trying to make. The debate rules, released by ABC News, outline the format of the debate, including the duration, commercial breaks, and the role of the moderators in asking questions and maintaining order during the discussion.
Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis will be the only ones asking questions to prevent a chaotic exchange between the candidates. If a candidate repeatedly interrupts, a warning will be issued by the moderators, and in cases of significant crosstalk, both candidates’ microphones may be unmuted to allow the audience to follow the conversation. The network has also specified that there will be no audience, written notes, or advance topics or questions shared with the campaigns or candidates.
In preparations for the debate, a virtual coin flip took place, resulting in Trump winning the choice for the final closing statement, while Harris selected the podium on the right side of viewers’ screens. Despite concerns over the microphone muting, the debate is expected to continue as planned, adhering to the agreed-upon rules and structure for the event.
