Harris Calls On Trump To Debate With Mics
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November, urged her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, to engage in a debate where both candidates’ microphones would remain on throughout the event.
The debate, which both Harris and the former president have agreed to participate in, is set to take place on September 10 and will be hosted by ABC News.
“Donald Trump is reportedly yielding to his advisors, who are advising against allowing him to debate with a live microphone. If even his own team lacks confidence in his ability, how can the American people trust him?” Harris remarked in a post on X.
“We’re running for the highest office in the land. Let’s have a debate that’s truly transparent—microphones on, no interruptions.”
Trump has expressed his preference for keeping the microphone on, stating that he disliked it being muted during his previous debate with then-candidate Joe Biden.
“Hot mics” can be a double-edged sword for political candidates, capturing off-the-cuff remarks that weren’t intended for public ears.
On the other hand, muted microphones help keep the debate orderly by preventing participants from talking over each other.
ABC has not yet provided a comment regarding the microphone policy for the upcoming debate.
This debate will mark the first time Harris and Trump will go head-to-head since Biden withdrew from the presidential race after a subpar performance in a CNN debate in June, which led to concerns about his mental sharpness.
In related news, Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance have confirmed their participation in a debate scheduled for October 1 on CBS News.