Donald Trump’s campaign doesn’t want his and Kamala Harris’ microphones to be live throughout their entire 90-minute debate next month.
The Republican candidate also appears to be having second thoughts about the network hosting the Sept. 10 discussion just weeks before voters go to the polls to select the nation’s 47th president.
A senior Harris campaign staff told Politico the the 59-year-old Democratic candidate doesn’t want microphones to be muted, which was the agreement struck between Trump’s team and President Biden’s when he was the presumptive candidate. But since Harris is now the Democratic nominee, her team wants to change that arrangement. Staffers for the Republican candidate are reportedly standing firm on their terms for the debate being hosted by ABC.
“Our understanding is that Trump’s handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don’t think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own,” Harris’ senior communications adviser Brian Fallon told Politico.
Fallon isn’t certain that Trump himself is aware the issue is being discussed. Sources in Harris’ camp reportedly believe if left to his own devices, Trump might get frustrated and say something embarrassing if allowed to ramble.
Trump’s senior adviser Jason Miller accused Harris’ team of playing “games” and wants Harris to stick to the rules in place when Biden debated Trump on CNN June 27. The president’s performance during that discussion was so poor that he was later convinced not to seek reelection.
“We accepted the ABC debate under the exact same terms as the CNN debate,” Miller said.
He also claimed Harris’ team wanted the candidates to be able to use notes during the debate, which her team denies.
“My guess is that they’re looking for a way to get out of any debate with President Trump,” Miller told Politico.
On Sunday, Trump appeared to be the candidate less enthused about certain terms of the debate.
“Why would I do the Debate against Kamala Harris on that network?” Trump asked on social media after watching “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” whom the 78-year-old candidate called “Liddle’ George Slopadopolus.”
Trump is suing Stephanopoulos for claiming in March the Republican nominee was found liable for rape when in fact, he was found liable for sexual abuse.
