Trump claims he and Harris 'reached an agreement' on debate rules

By 
 August 28, 2024

Former President Donald Trump said on Truth Social Tuesday that the September 10 ABC News debate between himself and Vice President Kamala Harris is back on, and that it will adhere to the same rules as the June debate between Trump and President Joe Biden.

'I have reached an agreement with the Radical Left Democrats for a Debate with Comrade Kamala Harris,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"The Rules will be the same as the last CNN Debate, which seemed to work out well for everyone except, perhaps, Crooked Joe Biden," he said in the same post.

This means that Trump and Harris will be standing during the debate and that neither candidate will get to use a "cheat sheet" or any notes.

Microphone issue resolved

Microphones will be muted while the other person is speaking, which had been a major sticking point.

The Harris campaign had advocated for live mics at all times, thinking Trump would not be able to keep his mouth shut when it was Harris's turn to speak and that it would look bad for him.

Trump also noted that the campaign has "also been given assurance by ABC that this will be a “fair and equitable” Debate, and that neither side will be given the questions in advance (No Donna Brazile!)."

When asked by a reporter on Monday how he was preparing for the debate, Trump said, “I’m not. ... I think my whole life I’ve been preparing for a debate.”

ABC "nastiest newscaster" in the business

Trump had said he was thinking of backing out of the debate after one of the moderators, Linsey Davis, led a panel last Sunday that attacked him.

The debate will be hosted by the "nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business," he said, referring to ABC News.

He also alluded to previous comments that a top official of ABC is very close friends with Harris.

Dana Walden and Harris have been close friends for a long time, but Walden told the New York Times she doesn't make editorial decisions at the outlet.

Trump's hopes

Trump also complained that Harris would not do the proposed Fox News debate on September 4, but said he's keeping the date open "in case she changes her mind or, flip flops."

The debate in June with Biden exposed the extent of his mental deterioration and ultimately led to him dropping out of the race. Trump is no doubt hoping to expose Harris's weaknesses in the same way during their debate.

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