ABC presidential debate rules say microphones will be muted, but Harris camp still withdraws

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CNN
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ABC News plans to mute the microphones of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris while their opponent speaks during an upcoming presidential debate, according to a copy of the formal rules obtained by CNN, but the Harris campaign continues to reject the crisis endpoint.

“Candidates’ microphones will only be live for the candidate whose turn it is to speak and will be turned off when the time belongs to another candidate,” ABC said in the debate rules sent to the campaign on Tuesday.

While Trump’s campaign accepted the rules governing the Sept. 10 match, Harris’ campaign said it remains in ongoing discussions with the network about the microphone issue.

“Our latest understanding is that although Trump said on Monday that he would be fine with a mute microphone, his handlers do not trust him to talk to VP Harris and are asking ABC to ignore Trump’s comments and keep microphones muted, otherwise they will. walk out of the debate for the third time,” Harris senior campaign adviser Brian Fallon said in a post on X. “We have been asked to accede to the wishes of Trump’s handlers on this point for the sake of keeping the debate going. We believe the Trump team’s position is weak and remain in discussions with ABC regarding the final rules.”

Fallon added that the rules sent to the campaigns were “a draft” that both sides still need to agree on.

“We have not done so because we believe both candidates have expressed a clear desire to have hot microphones,” he said. “It’s not clear why the Trump staff is overruling their director, who should be able to make up his own mind.”

ABC News declined to comment.

During an event in Virginia on Monday, Trump said of the microphones: “We agreed to the same rules, I don’t know, it doesn’t matter to me, I’d rather have it, probably, but the agreement was that it would be the same like last time.”

But in a post on his Truth Social platform the next day, Trump added: “The rules will be the same as the last CNN debate, which seemed to work well for everyone except maybe Crooked Joe Biden.”

ABC’s rules, which were first shared with the campaigns last week, largely mirror the format of CNN’s June presidential debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, during which the candidates’ microphones were muted while their opponent spoke, a rule which the Biden campaign insisted on. but something the Harris campaign had sought to change in recent days.

But the issue of hot microphones has become a sticking point as ABC News prepares for the high-stakes debate next month in Philadelphia with moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis.

The Harris campaign publicly pushed for microphones to remain muted throughout the event, linking Trump to the issue in a statement earlier this week.

“Both candidates have made clear their willingness to debate with muted microphones during the debate to fully allow substantive exchanges between the candidates — but it appears that Donald Trump is letting his handlers control him. Sad!”

But behind the scenes, the Trump campaign continued to advocate for the rules they had already agreed to with ABC News. The official list of debate rules was sent to the Trump campaign on Tuesday and has been accepted by the campaign. According to a person familiar with the matter, the Trump campaign expected ABC to air the official announcement that both candidates had accepted the debate rules earlier this week.

In addition to muted microphones, the 90-minute debate will not feature a live audience. ABC has agreed to allow other television networks to simulcast the event, which will include two commercial breaks. A coin toss will determine podium placement and closing statement order.

Candidates will not be allowed to have any notes on stage with them or visit campaign staff during breaks.

Two minutes will be allowed for answers and two minutes for rebuttals, with one minute for follow-ups. Also, candidates cannot ask each other questions.