Vice President Kamala Harris has been vocal in her push for open microphones at the upcoming presidential debate against former President Donald Trump. Harris expressed concerns about Trump's team not allowing him to debate with a live microphone, suggesting that if his own advisors lack confidence in him, the American people should be concerned as well.
Harris emphasized the importance of transparency in the debate process, stating, 'We are running for President of the United States. Let’s debate in a transparent way—with the microphones on the whole time.'
ABC News reportedly intends to mute the microphones of both Trump and Harris while their opponent speaks, according to formal rules. While the Trump campaign has accepted these rules for the upcoming debate, Harris' campaign is still in discussions with the network regarding the microphone issue.
During a recent event in Virginia, Trump mentioned his preference for having the microphones on throughout the debate but acknowledged the agreed-upon rules. Despite ongoing discussions, the Trump campaign has been advocating for the previously agreed-upon rules with ABC.
Trump's statement on social media indicated that the rules for the upcoming debate would be similar to those of his previous debate against President Joe Biden. This back-and-forth has led to Harris questioning Trump's autonomy in decision-making, suggesting that his advisors may be exerting influence over him.
