Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to debate each other next week in Philadelphia. The ground rules for the debate have been agreed upon by both campaigns, following some back-and-forth regarding the format, including the use of muted microphones.
The debate will be 90 minutes long, without an audience, and moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News. Both candidates will stand throughout the debate without notes or props. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer questions and two-minute rebuttals, with an additional minute for follow-up, clarification, or response.
The rules and format are similar to the June debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, which was widely criticized for Trump’s performance. The Harris campaign initially sought to change the rules regarding muted microphones but eventually agreed to the full set of rules proposed by ABC to avoid jeopardizing the debate.
Trump had indicated that he might back out of the debate due to concerns about unfair treatment by the network, but eventually relented and agreed to the terms. The Harris campaign had also taken shots at Trump during the impasse, highlighting the willingness of both candidates to have unmuted microphones.
The debate is scheduled for September 10 and will be a key moment in the lead-up to the 2024 election. Both candidates will have the opportunity to present their visions to voters in a direct and substantive manner.
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