The Kamala Harris campaign faced a storm of criticism Thursday after attempting to alter the rules for an upcoming debate against President Donald Trump. The backlash began when Harris campaign spokesperson Brian Fallon claimed that they had not agreed to ABC News’ rules, which included muting candidates’ microphones while their opponents spoke.
ABC News had previously informed both campaigns that the September 10 debate would adhere to the same guidelines as the June CNN debate. These rules included standing candidates with muted microphones, no notes allowed, and no audience present. Despite this, Fallon suggested that the Trump team pushed for muted microphones due to concerns about Trump’s ability to engage in a live, unmuted debate.
Fallon’s claims sparked significant backlash online, with critics accusing the Harris campaign of trying to avoid a direct confrontation with Trump. Ben Shapiro, Editor Emeritus of The Daily Wire, blasted the Harris campaign, stating, “Stop trying to manufacture excuses to avoid debates.” Others, like Commentary Magazine’s John Podhoretz, accused Fallon of being “dishonest and disingenuous.”
The controversy surrounding the debate rules has only increased scrutiny on the Harris campaign. With the debate just days away, the issue has highlighted the intense political rivalry and the lengths to which each campaign will go to gain an advantage. As the public awaits the debate, the pressure is on for both candidates to engage in a fair and transparent showdown.
