ABC News Rejects Kamala Harris’ Request to Change Trump Debate Rules; Microphones to Remain Muted – TrendyNewsReporters

ABC News has rejected Kamala Harris’s request to keep her microphones unmuted during the Sept. 10 debate against Donald Trump. The report comes just days after the campaigns for both presidential candidates clashed over the rules. In an email sent this week, the network laid out a list of rules similar to Trump’s CNN debate against Joe Biden, including muting microphones when a candidate isn’t speaking. The email sent by ABC News chief counsel Eric Lieberman said there would be “no audience and no pre-written notes or props.” The outlet adds that both Trump and Harris will only be allowed to have a pen, pad of paper and bottle of water while on stage. Trump’s campaign had insisted on similar rules at the June 27 debate, while Harris’ campaign proposed Monday that both candidates’ microphones not be muted for the full 90 minutes. In response to ABC News’ rules, Harris campaign spokesman Brian Fallon wrote on X: “Our latest understanding is that while Trump said Monday he would be OK with a mute, his handlers do not trust him to engage with Vice President Harris on air and are asking ABC to ignore Trump’s comments and keep the mics off or they will withdraw from the debate for the third time.” “We have been asked to accept the wishes of Trump’s handlers on this issue to preserve the debate. “We believe the Trump team’s position is weak and we continue to discuss with ABC the final rules,” Fallon added. Meanwhile, Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller harshly criticized the Harris campaign, saying they are “completely full of themselves.” “Everything was agreed upon and established last week. Harris’ people are trying to distract and come up with something brilliant to get away from the fact that she is not giving interviews,” Miller added in a statement to Newsmax.