Muted mics and tense negotiations: What to expect from Trump-Harris debate

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to debate for the first time on Tuesday in what is shaping up to be a close race for the US presidency.

The debate, taking place in Philadelphia, is a key moment for both candidates. Harris has the opportunity to make a lasting impression following criticism of the Biden administration, while Trump can use the platform to reaffirm his position as the election approaches.

After weeks of negotiation regarding the event's details, ABC, which is organising the debate, revealed the final rules agreed upon by both campaigns earlier this week.

Details of the debate

Scheduled for September 10, the debate will be held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. It will begin at 9:00 pm local time on Tuesday (0100 GMT on Wednesday) and will be broadcast live. No audience will be present in the venue.

The 90-minute event will be moderated by ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis and will include two commercial breaks.

Microphone arrangements

One of the main issues surrounding the debate was whether or not microphones would be muted, a topic that sparked tension between both sides. In a previous debate between Trump and President Biden, microphones were muted, and this time each side accused the other of being fearful over the matter.

ABC has confirmed that each candidate’s microphone will be live only when it is their turn to speak and will be muted when it’s not. Only the moderators will pose questions, and no topics or questions will be shared with the candidates beforehand.

Harris’s team expressed concerns in a letter to ABC, which was obtained by The Washington Post, stating that this arrangement could put her at a disadvantage, as it stops Trump from directly addressing her. "We believe this is why his campaign pushed for muted microphones," the letter read.

There will be no opening statements. Candidates will have two minutes to respond to each question, followed by a two-minute rebuttal from the opposing candidate. An additional minute is available for further clarification or response, based on the debate rules.

Both candidates will end the debate with a two-minute closing statement.

Trump, having won a coin toss, will speak last and selected the left side of the stage, allowing Harris to choose the right side. Both candidates will remain at podiums for the entire debate, with no props or notes allowed. They will each receive a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water.

(With inputs from agencies)