In a recent announcement made on Tuesday, Donald Trump, who is a contender for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, indicated that an agreement has been finalized regarding the debate rules for an upcoming event hosted by ABC News. This debate is scheduled for September 10th in Philadelphia, adhering to the same guidelines established during CNN’s debate in June. This development is in contrast to the demands made by Kamala Harris’s campaign for a debate format allowing for seated discussions and access to notes.
Trump shared his thoughts through a statement: “I have reached an agreement with the Radical Left Democrats for a Debate with Comrade Kamala Harris. It will be Broadcast Live on ABC FAKE NEWS, by far the nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business, on Tuesday, September 10th, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 further added, “The Debate will be ‘stand up,’ and Candidates cannot bring notes, or ‘cheat sheets.’ We have 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!). Harris would not agree to the Fox News Debate on September 4th, but that date will be held open in case she changes her mind or, Flip Flops, as she has done on every single one of her long held and cherished policy beliefs. A possible third Debate, which would go to NBC FAKE NEWS, has not been agreed to by the Radical Left. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Trump criticized the negotiations, suggesting Harris’s reluctance: “The truth is they’re trying to get out of it because she doesn’t want to debate. She’s not a good debater. She’s not a smart person. She doesn’t want to debate.”
He remarked on the agreement for debate rules: “We agreed to the same rules. Same rules, and same specifications, and I think that’s probably what it should be, but they’re trying to change it.”
From Harris’s camp, Brian Fallon mentioned they preferred an open-mic setup to capture Trump’s comments during the debate, citing, “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.” This detail highlights a difference in preferences between the two campaigns, further fueling the debate’s setup discussions.
