Republican candidate Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris will participate in the first presidential debate in less than two weeks. Ahead of the September 10 face-off, the two campaigns are already at loggerheads over the issue of “hot mics.”
Harris campaign calls for open mic
The Harris campaign is pushing for an open microphone policy, which means both candidates will keep their mics on during the debate. They argue that this approach ensures transparency and spontaneous conversation, giving viewers a full picture of each candidate’s reactions and responses in real time.
According to US Vice President Kamala Harris’ spokesman Brian Fallon, the Democratic candidate is fully prepared to deal with Donald Trump’s tactics, which often include interruptions and unflattering remarks. However, the Harris campaign insists that the microphones remain on throughout the debate to ensure that no one “hides behind the mic” or avoids giving a direct answer.
Trump wants the mics muted
However, the Trump campaign is advocating for the same rules as the previous debates held in June. For the CNN debate, microphones were muted when it was the other candidate’s turn to speak. The Trump team argues that this rule prevents disruptions and maintains order during the debate, allowing each candidate to present their views without interruption.
US President Joe Biden had agreed with Donald Trump’s campaign on the controversial microphone policy before stepping down as the Democratic Party’s nominee.
Differences over debate rules grew further when Trump said the ABC network, which hosted the September 10 debate, was biased. In a social media post, Trump indicated he had reached an agreement to turn off microphones similar to the rules of the previous CNN debate.
The Trump campaign proposed an additional debate on Fox News on September 4, which the Harris team rejected.
The use of a “hot mic” has been a subject of debate in past presidential debates, with some advocating for a more authentic and spontaneous discussion while others said it caused candidates to speak over each other and avoid giving direct answers.