Trump, Harris campaigns spar over upcoming debate

Former President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested that he might not show up for his scheduled Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris. He characterized ABC News, which is slated to host the debate, as a fake news outlet. He also accused a network host of engaging in a one-sided interview with Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., during a Monday morning news program. Trump questioned why he should debate Harris on the network.

Does Harris have any issues with the debate format? Harris’s campaign demanded that both candidates’ microphones remain on for the entire debate. Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden previously agreed when they were setting up the Sept. 10 debate to have their microphones muted unless it was their allotted time to speak. Trump should not hide behind his microphone’s mute button, Harris campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said on Monday. But Fallon later on Monday acknowledged that Trump said he would be fine with his microphone remaining on for the entire debate.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report in The Sift about how vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and J.D. Vance have agreed to a debate in October.