Pelosi Says Trump 'Lacks Excitement.' Is She Right?

Kamala Desperate To Change Debate Rules

Vice President Kamala Harris is pressing former President Donald Trump to reject the suggestion from his advisors that microphones be muted between candidate statements in their upcoming presidential debate on September 10. In a move that is sure to influence the debate dynamics, Harris is pushing for a format where both candidates’ microphones remain live throughout the discussion.

During Trump’s previous debate with President Joe Biden, the format included muting the opposing candidate’s microphone to curb interruptions—a tactic aimed at minimizing Trump’s renowned debate interruptions. Harris is now urging Trump to oppose such measures, arguing that a debate with microphones constantly active would ensure a more transparent and direct exchange of ideas.

Harris took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Trump’s compliance with his advisors. “Donald Trump is yielding to his advisors who want to mute microphones during the debate,” she stated. “If his team lacks confidence in his ability to debate effectively, how can we expect the American people to have confidence? We are running for the highest office in the land—let’s ensure a transparent debate with open microphones throughout.”

ABC News, which will host the debate, has proposed rules that include muted microphones, a point that Trump’s campaign has agreed to. However, Harris’s campaign has yet to accept these terms, leading to ongoing disagreements just days before the debate. Trump has suggested adding more debates, potentially on networks like Fox News and NBC, to increase exposure, but Harris’s resistance to the current debate rules threatens to complicate the arrangement.

Trump has also expressed dissatisfaction with the ABC News format, labeling the network as “ABC FAKE NEWS” and accusing it of being the most biased in the industry. Despite his preference for having microphones always on, Trump’s campaign has already committed to the agreed debate rules.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Trump’s campaign for comments on Harris’s stance. The debate format is expected to mirror Trump’s prior debate with Biden, where Biden’s campaign saw a significant drop in polling shortly after the event. Some observers speculate that Harris’s push for unmuted microphones could be a strategic move to create memorable moments akin to her notable “I’m speaking” retort in the 2020 vice presidential debate with then-Vice President Mike Pence.