Trump, Harris Set for First Debate Next Week Amidst Format Controversy

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are preparing for their inaugural debate next week. Both their campaigns recently agreed to the ground rules set by ABC, the host network. The much-anticipated event is scheduled to take place on Sept. 10 in Philadelphia.

Agreement on Debate Rules

The debate will employ the same rules and format as the debate that took place in June between Trump and President Joe Biden. Initially, both campaigns had consented to hold the debate on the scheduled date. However, the agreement faced potential jeopardy when Trump hinted at the possibility of backing out, while Harris’ team sought to modify the rule regarding muted microphones. Under the new agreement, candidate microphones will be operational only for the candidate who is taking their turn to speak.

Statement from the Trump Campaign

Following the agreement, Trump campaign official Jason Miller expressed satisfaction, stating that the former president's campaign was “thrilled that Kamala Harris and her team of Biden campaign leftovers” have “accepted the already agreed-upon rules.” Miller emphasized the importance of allowing both candidates to present their competing visions to voters without any hindrance. He concluded by affirming the campaign's readiness to participate in the debate.

Concerns from the Harris Campaign

In contrast, the Harris campaign expressed reservations about the muted microphone rule, expressing in a letter to ABC that Harris "will be fundamentally disadvantaged by this format, which will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President." Despite these concerns, the Harris campaign acknowledged the potential risk of Trump skipping the debate entirely if they did not accept his preferred format. With the intention of preserving the debate, the Harris campaign reluctantly acquiesced to the full set of rules proposed by ABC, including the muted microphones, thus concluding the impasse.

Debate Details

The 90-minute debate is slated to take place without an audience in Philadelphia's National Constitution Center at 9 p.m. ET. It will be moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis from ABC News. As per the agreed rules, neither candidate will be allowed to use notes or props, and both will be required to stand for the entire duration of the debate. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to questions, followed by a two-minute rebuttal period. Additionally, each candidate will have an extra minute for any follow-up, clarification, or response.

Reactions to Debate Rules

The rules of the upcoming debate reflect the format of the previous debate between Trump and Biden held on June 27. Trump's performance in that debate received widespread criticism and eventually led to his withdrawal from the race, subsequently endorsing Harris in July. The impasse regarding the use of muted or live microphones had the potential to derail the debate, prompting the Harris campaign to make pointed remarks at Trump during the stalemate.

The Harris campaign had previously expressed frustration with Trump's stance, stating, “Both candidates have publicly made clear their willingness to debate with unmuted mics for the duration of the debate to fully allow for substantive exchanges between the candidates — but it appears Donald Trump is letting his handlers overrule him. Sad!” This statement was made in response to the impasse over the debate format.

Trump's Stance and Agreement with ABC

In a deviation from the previously agreed-upon format, Trump had indicated his displeasure with the treatment of Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., during an interview on ABC News’ “This Week. As a result, he expressed consideration to back out of the debate altogether. Despite this, Trump later reconciled with ABC hosting the debate, claiming in a post on Truth Social that he had “reached an agreement” with the network.

Debate Preparations and Podium Placement

Paving the way for the impending debate, a virtual coin flip was conducted on Tuesday to determine the placement of the podiums and the order of closing statements for the debate on Sept. 10. As per ABC News, Trump emerged victorious in the coin toss and opted to deliver his closing statement last. Meanwhile, Harris selected the right podium position as seen on the screen.

The Stakes Ahead

The upcoming debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is set against a backdrop of controversy and differing stances on debate format. The agreement on the rules and structure of the debate marks a significant development in the lead-up to the event. With the podium positions and order of closing statements determined, all eyes are now on the anticipated clash between these two prominent political figures.

As the nation prepares for this highly anticipated debate, the implications of the chosen format and the candidates' performances are bound to reverberate in the weeks and months to come. The debate promises to be a momentous occasion in the ongoing electoral narrative, bringing to the fore the contrasting visions and approaches of the two candidates.