As the race for the White House heats up, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are locked in a dispute over the upcoming presidential debate scheduled for September.
Why Would I?
Trump, who is making his third bid for the presidency, has raised concerns about the debate being hosted by ABC, alleging bias from the network. According to Ziare he questioned:
"Why would I debate Kamala Harris on that network?" in a social media post, urging his supporters to stay tuned for updates.
Harris’s campaign is pushing for an adjustment to the debate format to ensure that the candidates' microphones remain open throughout the event.
In the last debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in June, Trump’s microphone was muted while Biden spoke, limiting the chance to counter Trump’s claims.
Harris’s spokesperson, Brian Fallon, emphasized that the vice president is ready to respond in real-time to any interruptions or falsehoods from Trump. "Trump should stop hiding behind the mute button," Fallon stated.
Prefer an Open Mic
The rules for the upcoming debate had initially been agreed upon, with both candidates expected to follow the same format as the previous debate on CNN, which involved muted microphones.
However, Trump has expressed a preference for keeping his microphone on, claiming he didn’t like being cut off in the last debate. He stated, "I don’t spend a lot of time on it... I think my whole life has prepared me for a debate."
Harris secured her position as the Democratic nominee after President Biden withdrew from the race last month. She confirmed her participation in the ABC debate on September 10, which was originally scheduled by Biden and Trump.
Meanwhile, a separate debate featuring vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz is slated for October 1 on CBS News.
