It was one of the main sticking points between the two camps. As the first debate of the American presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump looms, which is scheduled to take place on September 10, the rules for this highly anticipated event have finally been set, NBC News points out on Thursday, September 5.
After several weeks of procrastination, Republicans and Democrats finally agreed on several terms, including that the candidate’s microphones would be cut off when his opponent speaks. It was Kamala Harris’ team in particular that wanted the microphones to remain open at all times.
Harris ‘fundamentally disadvantaged’
In a letter to ABC, Kamala’s campaign confirmed that it would accept the off-mic rule, albeit with reservations. It noted that the vice president would be “fundamentally disadvantaged by this format, which will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges.”
“Despite our concerns, we understand that Donald Trump may not participate in the debate, as he has previously threatened to do, if we do not accept his preferred format. We do not want to compromise the debate. That is why we have accepted the proposed set of rules,” it says.
In recent weeks, Donald Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on whether he would participate if the rules of the debate were not in his favor.
Ultimately, the rules established for the September 10 debate remain the same as those used during the debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, then still a candidate for his own re-election, last June.
The debate will be held without an audience and the two candidates will not be allowed to take notes. They will be forced to remain standing, and will have two minutes to answer questions and two minutes to respond.
- BFMTV.com
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