2024-09-07 14:13:56
Microphones on or off? That was the core of the argument between Trump and Harris before the TV debate next week. Now the broadcaster has an answer to the question.
The US broadcaster ABC has published the rules for the eagerly awaited first televised debate between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris.
Previously, there had been a dispute between Trump and Harris over the microphones – specifically, the question was whether they should be muted when the political opponent is speaking. There now seems to be an agreement: during the TV debate, the microphones of the person who is not speaking should be muted.
Harris has now apparently given in. A spokesperson for the campaign team of Democrat Harris said last week that they would prefer both candidates’ microphones to remain on during the entire broadcast. “We believe Trump’s advisers prefer the microphone to be silent because they do not believe their candidate can behave in a presidential manner for 90 minutes,” they said in a statement.
During the TV debate in June between Trump and the then Democratic presidential candidate, US President Joe Biden, the microphones of the person who was not speaking were muted. According to reports, the muting was done by Biden’s team. The Democrats wanted to prevent Trump from constantly interrupting the 81-year-old Democrat. After the debate, however, observers came to the conclusion that the muted microphones actually helped Trump because the 78-year-old seemed more controlled.
Trump was upset that Harris wanted to change these rules and indirectly threatened to call off the entire TV debate. The debate between Trump and Biden at the time was hosted by the US broadcaster CNN, now it is ABC’s turn. The spectacle will be moderated by journalists David Muir and Linsey Davis. ABC stated that both candidates had agreed to the published rules.
The event will take place on September 10 (local time/September 11 CEST) in Philadelphia. The broadcaster announced that the debate will last 90 minutes, with two commercial breaks planned.
There will be no opening statements, and the candidates’ closing statements will last two minutes. “Props or pre-written notes are not allowed on stage,” ABC said. Harris and Trump will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water. Two minutes will be allocated to answer questions, two minutes for rebuttals by the other candidate and another minute for follow-up questions or clarifications.