Public opinion polls and media analysis

Harris and Trump Clash Over ABC Debate Microphone Rules for September 10

Aug 26, 2024, 11:57 AM

A dispute has emerged between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump's teams over the rules for the upcoming September 10 debate on ABC. Harris's team is advocating for the removal of a rule that mandates muting microphones when a candidate is not speaking, a rule initially agreed upon with President Biden to prevent interruptions. Harris wants hot mics to allow for a more dynamic debate and suggests Trump is nervous about this format. Trump's team, however, is questioning the debate's occurrence due to this disagreement, as they prefer the original agreement that includes muted microphones. Harris's campaign argues that Trump's handlers don't trust him to act presidential, while Trump's team suggests that the rule change is an attempt to bait Trump into not participating. The debate's future remains uncertain as both sides have yet to reach an agreement.