Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is unsure whether he’ll debate with Vice President Kamala Harris as agreed.
And their campaign teams are arguing over the terms of their showdown with ABC News on September 10.
In a social media post late Sunday night, Trump questioned whether he should debate Democratic candidate Harris given what the previous president said was a hostile atmosphere.
“I watched ABC FAKE NEWS this morning, both the ridiculous and biased interview of lightweight reporter Jonathan Carl (K?) with [Arkansas Sen.[] Tom Cotton (who was fantastic!) and their so-called panel of Trump haters, and I ask why I should have the debate against Kamala Harris on this network,” Trump wrote in his Truth Social post on Sunday.
“Will panelist Donna Brazil ask questions of the Marxist candidate like she did of fraudulent Hillary Clinton? Will Kamala's best friend who runs ABC do the same? Where is Liddle's George Slopadopolus hanging out now? Will he be on it? Lots of questions to answer!!! Why did Harris turn down Fox, NBC, CBS and even CNN? Stay tuned!!!” Trump wrote.
On Monday morning, Trump told NBC News that ABC was “the most unfair network” and “I think ABC really should be shut out,” saying he would favor to broadcast the controversy on one other network.
The surprising proposal got here amid reports of a dispute between campaign teams over whether ABC would keep each candidates' microphones on throughout the controversy, which might record any comments made by the candidates while their opponent was speaking.
Harris' campaign team wants hot microphones, however the Trump campaign team doesn’t, NBC News confirmed after a report by Politico.
This is a reversal of the campaign teams' positions through the last presidential debate, hosted by CNN in late June. The campaign team of then-Democratic candidate Joe Biden had asked – and obtained – that the candidates' microphones be turned on only when it was their turn to talk. The Trump campaign team had requested hot microphones.
Still, the controversy was a disaster for Biden. His hesitant performance and confused answers dashed his hopes of re-election. Less than a month later, Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris.
The vice chairman is a former prosecutor who may benefit from a process that permits her to refute Trump's arguments on the fly moderately than waiting her turn.
Brian Fallon, a spokesman for Harris' campaign, said in a press release: “We have communicated to ABC and other networks planning to host a possible debate in October that we believe both candidates' microphones should be on throughout the broadcast.”
“Our understanding is that Trump's advisers prefer the silent microphone because they don't believe their candidate can act as president for 90 minutes alone,” Fallon told NBC.
Trump often interrupts his opponents during debates, including in 2016 during a duel with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. “Such a disgusting woman,” he complained when Clinton answered a matter.
Fallon said: “We suspect Trump's team hasn't even informed his boss about this dispute because it would be too embarrassing to admit that they don't believe he can stand up to Vice President Harris without the mute button. The Vice President is prepared to deal with Trump's constant lies and interruptions in real time. Trump should stop hiding behind the mute button.”
Jason Miller, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, said in a press release that Trump accepted the ABC debate under “exactly the same terms” that were agreed to for the Republican debate with Biden on CNN.
“The Harris camp had already agreed to CNN rules and asked for a seated debate, with notes and opening statements,” Miller said. “We said there were no changes to the agreed-upon rules. If Kamala Harris isn't smart enough to repeat the messages her advisers want her to believe, that's her problem. This seems to be a pattern for the Harris campaign.”
“They're not allowing Harris to do interviews, they're not allowing her to do press conferences, and now they want to give her a debate cheat sheet,” Miller said. “I suspect they're looking for a way to get out of any debate with President Trump.”
Trump told NBC News on Monday morning that he “doesn't care” if the microphones are hot through the debate.
“I would probably prefer it on, but the agreement was that it would be just like the last time,” Trump said.
Fallon denied that Harris' campaign had requested a seated debate where note-taking could be allowed.
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