ABC News will not change the rules for the upcoming Trump-Harris debate scheduled for Sept. 10. In an exclusive, The New York Post reported ABC declined the Harris campaign’s request to keep the microphones open, or unmuted for the entire event.
This means the rules will be nearly identical to the Trump-Biden debate on June 27. The two candidates will be standing on stage behind a podium and will be allowed only a pen, a pad and a bottle of water. When one candidate is speaking, the other’s microphone will be muted.
The Harris campaign wanted the microphones open because they believe Trump’s hot mic moments hurt him. They also think the vice president would outperform him in a back-and-forth.
The debate is taking place at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center. There will not be a live audience.
According to the Post, ABC News Chief Counsel Eric Lieberman sent an email to both campaigns outlining the rules and asking for their formal acceptance.
Harris’ campaign spokesperson Brian Fallon said in a post on X that they remain in discussions with ABC on the final rules.
“Our latest understanding is that even though Trump said Monday he would be fine with an unmuted mic, his handlers don’t trust him to spar live with VP Harris and are asking ABC to ignore Trump’s comments and keep the mics muted or else they will back out of the debate for a third time,” Fallon wrote. “We have been asked to accede to Trump’s handlers’ wishes on this point for the sake of preserving the debate.”
Trump said Tuesday, Aug. 27, in a post on Truth Social that he reached an agreement with ABC, which he described as the nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business. He said the rules will be the same as the CNN debate, which seemed to work for everyone.
Trump also said Vice President Harris would not agree to a Fox News debate on Sept. 4, but the date will be held open in case she changes her mind.
