Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign found itself in hot water Thursday after attempting to alter the debate rules for an upcoming face-off with President Donald Trump. The Harris campaign reportedly pushed back against ABC News’ established guidelines, which include muting candidates’ microphones while their opponents speak.
The controversy erupted when the New York Post reported that ABC News had notified both campaigns that the September 10 debate would adhere to the same rules as the June CNN debate. These rules mandated that candidates would stand with muted microphones during their opponent’s speaking time, would not be allowed to use notes, and that there would be no audience.
Despite these guidelines being clearly communicated, Harris campaign spokesperson Brian Fallon suggested that the Trump team was advocating for muted microphones because they didn’t trust Trump to engage in a fair, unmuted debate. Fallon claimed that Harris’ team was being pressured to accept the rules under threat of the debate being canceled.
The Harris campaign’s stance drew significant criticism. Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro accused the Harris team of trying to “manufacture excuses to avoid debates.” Commentary Magazine’s John Podhoretz also criticized Fallon, calling his arguments “dishonest and disingenuous.”
The backlash against the Harris campaign’s attempt to change the debate rules has only heightened tensions as both sides prepare for the critical debate. With public trust and transparency at stake, the issue of fair debate practices has become a focal point in the ongoing political battle.
