Opening Night of the Democratic National Convention
FactcheckAug 23
Harris, Trump Campaigns Debate Parameters of Debate
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Above: Former Pres. Donald Trump at the June 2024 presidential debate. Image copyright: Justin Sullivan/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and former Pres. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, have started a public row over whether microphones should be muted during the Sept. 10 debate as they were during Trump's debate with Pres. Joe Biden in June.
Previously, Trump and Biden's campaigns agreed to two debates — one on CNN on June 27, the second on ABC on September 10 — with the mics muted except for when it's a candidate's turn to speak. Harris' campaign has reportedly asked that the mics be on at all times, while the Trump side is seeking to conduct the debate under the same rules as June.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
The specter of having to face Harris in a debate has again thrown Trump into a panic. For the second time this month, the former president has tried to search for a way to back out of the debate while making it look like he's not a coward. Trump wasn't able to fool anyone — not even his supporters — the last time, and it won't work this time. He's going to have to show up and face the vice president on Sept.10.
Republican narrative
This attempt to change the agreed-upon rules for the next debate shows Harris is the one who's afraid to get on the debate stage. She saw how Trump trounced Biden in June — so badly that the president was pushed off the ticket — and now Harris is trying to dodge the debate and pin the blame on Trump. Harris should debate by the rules or admit she's scared.
