Vice President Kamala Harris has agreed to the debate rules set by ABC News for the upcoming presidential debate against former President Donald Trump, following a series of assurances from the network.
On Wednesday, ABC News announced the final rules for the debate, which include the contentious provision of muting microphones when a candidate is not speaking. The Harris campaign had previously opposed this rule, arguing that it would put Harris at a disadvantage by limiting her opportunity to directly engage with Trump.
According to CNN, Harris accepted the debate rules after receiving assurances from ABC News. These assurances include the potential for microphones to be unmuted in cases of significant cross-talk between the candidates. Additionally, moderators will work to manage interruptions and ensure viewers understand the exchanges. Pool reporters will also be present to report on any important interactions that may not be captured by the microphones.
An ABC spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that no additional agreements beyond the published rules were made, emphasizing that the debate rules were mutually agreed upon by both campaigns in May.
In a letter sent to ABC News, the Harris campaign expressed concerns about the rules but ultimately agreed to them. The letter criticized the muted microphone rule as a measure designed to shield Trump from direct confrontation. Despite these reservations, the campaign acknowledged that accepting the rules was necessary to ensure the debate would proceed, given Trump’s previous threats to skip the event if his preferred format was not adopted.
The debate is scheduled for September 10, and both campaigns have been vocal about their positions on the debate format. Trump’s campaign had criticized the Harris campaign’s attempts to renegotiate the rules and expressed satisfaction with the final agreement.
In addition to the debate preparations, both candidates are actively campaigning and making public appearances. Harris has recently unveiled a series of economic proposals aimed at courting the business community, while Trump continues to address various issues in his public appearances.
FOX News, the New York Times, and CBS News contributed to this report.
