Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Top News
Top News
Politics

Harris Campaign Continues To Push For Unmuted Microphones

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former governor Terry McAuliffe in Norfolk

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is continuing to address the issue of muted vs unmuted microphones at the upcoming presidential debate hosted by ABC News. The campaign's deputy campaign manager, Quentin Fulks, expressed amusement at the situation, stating that they believed the matter was settled, but Trump's handlers are now indicating that his microphone will be muted. Fulks emphasized the uncertainty surrounding Trump's stance on the issue, as he initially expressed a preference for unmuted microphones before his team reversed course.

ABC News reportedly intends to mute both Trump and Harris' microphones while their opponent is speaking during the debate, according to formal rules obtained by a source. This decision has led to speculation within the Harris campaign, with senior adviser Brian Fallon suggesting that Trump's handlers lack confidence in his ability to engage in live debate with Vice President Harris.

Trump's team initially preferred unmuted microphones but may now accept muted ones.
Vice President Harris' campaign addresses muted vs unmuted microphones for debate.
ABC News plans to mute both candidates' microphones while their opponent speaks.

Trump himself commented on the microphone situation during an event in Virginia, stating that while he would prefer to have his microphone on, he agreed to abide by the same rules as the previous debate. However, he later reiterated his preference for an unmuted microphone on his Truth Social platform, while also referencing the success of the previous debate format.

The rules outlined by ABC News for the upcoming debate closely resemble those of a previous debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in June. In that debate, the candidates' microphones were muted while their opponent was speaking, a rule that had been insisted upon by the Biden campaign. The Harris campaign had reportedly sought to modify this rule in recent days.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.