Kamala Says Trump Surrendered?
Vice President Kamala Harris recently took another jab at former President Donald Trump regarding the upcoming debate rules, criticizing him for his apparent willingness to accept muted microphones. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Harris claimed Trump was “surrendering to his advisors” by agreeing to have his microphone turned off during portions of the debate when he’s not speaking. “If his own team doesn’t have confidence in him, then the American people certainly can’t,” she declared.
Harris’s comments were a direct response to a thread by Washington Post journalist Josh Dawsey, who detailed the debate rules that Trump has reportedly accepted, as well as the stipulations put forth by her own campaign. Harris has been vocal about her preference for a fully transparent debate process, arguing that all microphones should remain active throughout the event to ensure a fair and open exchange of ideas.
The debate rules are still being negotiated. According to an email from ABC, which was obtained by The Hill, the draft rules indicate that microphones would only be live for the candidate currently speaking and muted during the time of the other candidates. This format has sparked debate, with Harris’s team pushing for continuous live microphones, a stance echoed by Harris’s spokesperson, Brian Fallon. Fallon criticized Trump’s team for what he described as an attempt to limit debate transparency, questioning why Trump’s advisors seemed to be overriding his own preferences.
Despite earlier indications from Trump that the microphone issue was of little concern to him, his campaign has insisted on the muted mic arrangement. Meanwhile, Trump allies have suggested that Harris’s team will face defeat either by accepting the debate rules as they are or by potentially backing out if the situation becomes unfavorable.
This debate follows Harris’s first major interview since President Biden endorsed her as his successor in July. In that interview, Harris managed to avoid any major gaffes but did not make any significant headlines.
