Trump and Harris campaigns agree to rules for ABC debate
NBCAug 25
Trump, Harris Campaigns Agree to Debate Rules
Image copyright: Gary Hershorn/Contributor/Corbis News via Getty Images
The Facts
ABC News has announced its official rules ahead of Democratic presidential nominee Vice Pres. Kamala Harris and Republican nominee former Pres. Donald Trump's first debate scheduled for 9 pm ET on Sept. 10.
Harris' campaign has agreed to mute microphones during the opposing candidate's turn to speak during the 90-minute debate in Philadelphia after attempting to change the rules that had previously been agreed upon under Pres. Joe Biden's campaign.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Harris obviously doesn't want to debate Trump, so her campaign tried to change the rules in order to get the former president to back out. Well, he called their bluff, even though he shouldn't have to debate her since his original agreement was with Biden. Hopefully, ABC's favoritism toward Harris won't impact it fairly conducting this important event.
Democratic narrative
By agreeing to the rules, the Harris campaign has denied Trump the excuse he wanted for backing out. So instead of pulling out, Trump is predictably claiming the network will be unfair to him — establishing his excuses for losing before he even gets on the stage with Harris, whom he's constantly denigrated since she became her party's nominee.