Kamala Harris’ campaign was hit with significant criticism Thursday after attempting to alter the rules for the upcoming debate against President Donald Trump.
The controversy arose when Harris campaign spokesperson Brian Fallon claimed that the campaign had not agreed to ABC News’ debate rules, which include muting candidates’ microphones while their opponents spoke.
ABC News had informed both the Harris and Trump campaigns that the September 10 debate would follow the same guidelines as the June CNN debate. These rules required that candidates stand with muted microphones during their opponent’s speaking time, use no notes, and debate without an audience present. Despite these clear guidelines, Fallon suggested that the Trump campaign insisted on the muted microphones because they didn’t trust Trump to perform well in an unmuted debate.
Fallon’s comments were met with a wave of backlash, with many accusing the Harris campaign of trying to avoid a direct confrontation with Trump. Ben Shapiro, Editor Emeritus of The Daily Wire, criticized the Harris campaign for “trying to manufacture excuses to avoid debates,” while Commentary Magazine’s John Podhoretz accused Fallon of being “dishonest and disingenuous.”
The debate rule controversy has added to the tension surrounding the upcoming event, with both campaigns facing increased scrutiny. The Harris campaign’s attempt to change the rules has led to questions about their readiness to face Trump head-to-head. As the debate date approaches, the pressure is on for both candidates to engage in a fair and transparent debate.
