The Kamala Harris campaign was met with fierce criticism Thursday after it was revealed that they attempted to modify the rules for the upcoming debate against President Donald Trump.
The backlash began when Harris spokesperson Brian Fallon claimed that the campaign had not agreed to ABC News’ debate guidelines, which included muting candidates’ microphones while their opponents spoke.
ABC News had previously informed both campaigns that the September 10 debate would follow the same rules as the June CNN debate. These guidelines stipulated that candidates would have muted microphones during their opponent’s speaking time, would not be allowed to use notes, and would face off without an audience present. Despite these clear instructions, Fallon suggested that the Trump campaign pushed for the muted microphones due to concerns about Trump’s performance in an unmuted debate.
Fallon’s remarks were met with widespread criticism, with many accusing the Harris campaign of trying to avoid a direct debate with Trump. Ben Shapiro, Editor Emeritus of The Daily Wire, called out the Harris campaign for “manufacturing excuses to avoid debates.” Other critics, like Commentary Magazine’s John Podhoretz, accused Fallon of being “dishonest and disingenuous.”
The controversy over the debate rules has heightened tensions as both campaigns gear up for the event. With public scrutiny increasing, the Harris campaign’s attempt to change the rules has raised questions about their confidence in facing Trump directly. As the debate date nears, both sides will need to address these concerns to ensure a fair and transparent process.
