ABC sets rules for Harris-Trump debate: muted mics, strict time limits and no audience

ABC News has released the rules for the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on September 10. They include muted microphones when the candidate is not speaking, strict time limits and no audience.

Harris’ team originally pushed for NO mute your opponent’s microphone.

“We believe both candidates’ microphones should be on for the duration of the broadcast,” Harris campaign senior communications adviser Brian Fallon said in an Aug. 26 statement. He added that Trump’s handlers favored the mute approach because, he said, “they don’t believe their candidate can single-handedly play the president for 90 minutes.”

Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, told Politico at the time that the vice president was “looking for a way to avoid a debate with President Trump.”

The debate will last 90 minutes with two commercial breaks and will be moderated by ABC News presenters David Muir and Linsey Davis.

• Trump won the virtual coin toss Tuesday and chose to deliver his final closing statement. Harris, meanwhile, chose the right position at the podium on the screen (stage left).

• The candidates will be introduced by the moderators, with Harris, as the incumbent party, being introduced first.

• Opening and closing speeches will be limited to two minutes for each candidate.

• Moderators will be the only ones asking questions. Candidates may not ask each other questions.

• The candidates will stand behind the podium throughout the debate, ostensibly to avoid the “he’s right behind her” situation that occurred during the 2016 no-podium event with Trump and then-rival Hillary Clinton or the wandering that occurred during the 2000 debate between George W. Bush and Al Gore.

• No props or pre-written notes are allowed on stage, but candidates will be provided with a pen, notebook, and a bottle of water.

• We will not share any topics or questions with candidates or campaigns in advance.

• Candidates will have two minutes to answer the questions, two minutes for polemics, and one additional minute for additional actions, explanations or answers.

• Candidates’ microphones will be turned on only for the candidate whose turn it is to speak, and muted when it is another candidate’s turn to speak.

• Campaign workers are not allowed to contact candidates during commercial breaks.

• Moderators will endeavor to enforce time limits and maintain a “civilized” discussion.

• There will be no audience in the hall.

Trump initially declined to debate Harris when she replaced incumbent President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee,

The debate will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and will be broadcast live on ABC on Tuesday, September 10 at 9:00 PM ET. It will also be broadcast live on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu, and will also be available in simulcast.

Vice presidential candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Walz have agreed to a debate on October 1, hosted by CBS.