Harris and Trump Debate in Philadelphia

COMRADE KAMALA HARRIS WAS GIVEN ONE IMPORTANT JOB AS VICE PRESIDENT… pic.twitter.com/8ewUMeXsEx

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2024

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to face off in their first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle on Tuesday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The debate was originally scheduled between Trump and President Joe Biden, but Biden suspended his campaign in July amid growing skepticism within his party about his ability to serve another term. The debate will begin at 9 p.m. Eastern Time and will be moderated by David Muir, anchor of “World News Tonight,” and Linsey Davis, anchor of ABC News Live “Prime.” The campaigns and the network finalized the rules leading up to the debate, with one key sticking point being the microphone usage.

"The debate, say Democrats close to Harris, is simply not the venue for just pumping up her partisans or trying to fulfill a liberal fantasy of aggressively confronting Trump…"

As I've been saying 🤷‍♀️https://t.co/h4OICEdVyk

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) September 7, 2024

Harris’ campaign preferred unmuted microphones for both candidates throughout the debate, while Trump’s team insisted on muting the microphone of the candidate not speaking. Eventually, Harris’ campaign agreed to the format proposed by ABC News, which includes muted microphones to avoid interruptions. Candidates will not be allowed to ask each other questions directly.

The debate will start with a coin flip, which Trump won, choosing to give the last closing statement. Harris selected the lectern on the left side of the stage. Each candidate will have two minutes for closing statements, responses to moderators’ questions, rebuttals, and follow-ups.

There's no way to "win" a debate against Donald Trump… but you can put on a better show.

My latest in @thenation where I share my concerns over the upcoming presidential performative debate. https://t.co/XIwhD1pzWj

— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) September 6, 2024

No prewritten notes are allowed, but candidates will have a pen, notepad, and water. The debate will last 90 minutes, ending at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with two commercial breaks.

Harris and Trump debate rules finalized

Kamala Harris rose through the ranks in San Francisco “a place where politics can feel like a cage match with an ocean view.”

Must read @llerer piece on how Harris delivered standout debate performances throughout her career to secure wins. https://t.co/U2vTiQuu9u

— Annie Linskey (@AnnieLinskey) September 7, 2024

Any topic can be discussed, but the network has not revealed specific topics. Viewers can watch the debate on various networks or stream it online. Another debate between the vice presidential nominees, Minnesota Gov.

Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, is scheduled for October 1 in New York City. Discussions about an additional debate between Harris and Trump are ongoing, with the potential for another debate in October.

Trump’s campaign is concerned about the former president’s mood going into the debate, fearing that he could engage in the same kind of self-sabotage that turned off voters in the 2020 presidential election. The campaign’s internal refrain is whether they will get “happy Trump” or “angry Trump.”

If Trump becomes frustrated on stage, it could trigger his worst instincts, including making personal and extreme attacks on Harris. Trump has previously struggled with Black women in power, and the campaign is wary of him repeating misogynistic comments or questioning Harris’s race.

The Harris campaign appears to be managing expectations ahead of the debate. “Tour de force aren’t going to be what you hear from the headlines, because the campaign’s already downplaying her performance before it even happens,” remarked one analyst. The debate marks a pivotal moment in the election cycle, providing both candidates a major platform to articulate their visions and policies directly to the American public.