Speculation is mounting over whether former President Trump and Vice President Harris will face off in a debate next month, with a clash over microphone muting fueling doubts about whether the event will happen at all. The controversy began when Harris’s campaign pushed for live microphones throughout the broadcast, a shift from the previously agreed-upon rules when President Biden was the Democratic nominee.
On Monday, Trump stated that he didn’t mind whether the microphones were muted, even as he criticized ABC News, the debate’s host, and hinted at possibly withdrawing from the event. Some Republicans argue that Trump, who has downplayed Harris’s rise in the polls, can’t afford to skip the September 10 debate. Democrats, on the other hand, are eager to portray Trump as afraid to face the vice president.
“This debate is a decisive moment for the election,” said a Republican strategist, noting that debates have a “Super Bowl level” impact on American politics.
John LaBombard, a former communications director for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, suggested that Trump’s hesitation reflects his struggle to campaign against Harris and fear of her candidacy. He pointed out that voters might question why Trump is concerned about live microphones, suggesting it could reveal anxiety about Harris’s debating skills.
While Trump has said he’s fine with open mics, he has not fully committed to participating, citing his dissatisfaction with ABC. Harris’s spokesperson, Brian Fallon, claimed that it was Trump’s team, not Harris’s, who preferred the muted microphones, doubting Trump’s ability to act presidential for 90 minutes.
The debate over microphone muting recalls a similar situation during Biden’s June debate performance, where muting did little to prevent his stumbling answers from becoming a major takeaway. After Biden was replaced by Harris atop the Democratic ticket, Trump initially withdrew from the ABC debate, casting doubt on whether he would debate Harris at all.
Although both sides eventually agreed to the ABC event, Trump had pushed for additional debates on Fox News and NBC News, while Harris’s campaign insisted on only the ABC debate before discussing another. Michael LaRosa, former press secretary for First Lady Jill Biden, noted that Harris benefits from open mics, as Trump’s aggressive style could backfire, making Harris’s disciplined approach more appealing.
Some Republicans believe that Trump and his team are trying to lower expectations ahead of the debate. Others suggest that Harris’s team is looking for a way out of the debate altogether, with Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller questioning Harris’s debate readiness.
As the debate date approaches, allies of Trump argue that Harris’s campaign is using format changes to avoid tough questions, while Harris supporters suggest Trump is trying to undermine the debate’s integrity. The debate, scheduled for September 10 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, was initially set between Trump and Biden before Biden withdrew. Harris now holds a narrow lead in some polls, including key battleground states, with the potential to gain further momentum following the Democratic convention.
