ABC News has declined Vice President Kamala Harris’ request to keep the microphones unmuted during her upcoming debate with former President Donald Trump on September 10.
The network decided to maintain the same debate rules used in Trump’s June 27 CNN debate with President Joe Biden. These rules include muting the microphones when a candidate is not speaking, having no audience, and not using pre-written notes or props.
The debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia will see both candidates on stage with only a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water allowed.
Trump’s campaign insisted that the debate adhere to the same guidelines as the June event with Biden, a position that ABC News confirmed last week and reinforced on Tuesday.
The Harris campaign initially requested that both candidates’ microphones remain live throughout the 90-minute debate. However, this request appears to have been dropped.
A source from Trump’s campaign indicated that Harris’ team may face criticism if they either accept the unchanged debate rules or withdraw from the event due to concerns over a recent CNN interview.
Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller accused Harris’ team of attempting to divert attention from her lack of media appearances by introducing the controversial request.
Harris, who gained attention during the 2020 debates with her “I’m speaking!” remark directed at then-Vice President Mike Pence, was likely hoping to replicate that moment during the upcoming debate.
