Trump and Harris are engaged in a dispute concerning televised debates.
The initial tussle between Trump and Harris, the contenders, has yet to materialize. Nevertheless, barbed remarks are already flying between their respective teams. The Republican faction is specifically focusing on the broadcasting station. Initially, a significant face-off between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris was scheduled for approximately two weeks from now. However, growing discontent from both sides is casting doubt on whether the duel on September 10 will unfold as planned.
Directly from his personal platform, Truth Social, Trump directed his ire at the broadcast station ABC News. "What's the point of debating Kamala Harris on this station?", he posed, altering the network's name in his post to "ABC Deceitful News".
The root of his fierce dismay traces back to an interview conducted by an ABC reporter with US Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas. Despite Cotton's "impressive" performance, the reporter reportedly handled the conversation in a "preposterous" and "biased" manner. Trump also levels accusations against several moderators of the network, claiming they have a pro-Democratic bias, and labeling the experts appearing on the network as a "series of Trump antagonists". The 78-year-old deems the network's guests as a "chorus of Trump detractors".
Microphone Controversy
The camps of both contenders are also locked in a dispute over the regulations governing their only agreed-upon joint TV appearance so far. The Harris camp reportedly intends to alter the rules once more. As per a spokesperson for the Democrat, Brian Fallon, speaking to Politico, "We communicated to ABC and other networks considering a potential debate in October that we believe the microphones of both candidates should remain active throughout the broadcast's entirety". Previously, it had been agreed that the microphone of the non-speaking party would be muted during the TV appearance. This rule also applied to the duel between Biden and Trump on CNN in June.
Openly justifying the rule change request, Fallon cited Trump's alleged lack of self-control. "We contend that Trump's advisors would prefer the muted microphone because they don't trust their candidate to manage 90 minutes of presidential discourse on his own."
The Trump camp countered with a sarcastic jab. "Now that the Harris campaign has commenced its debate preparations, they are clearly concerned about what they perceive to be Harris' performance", stated Trump campaign spokesperson Jason Miller. The Harris campaign, according to the spokesperson, is attempting to alter the regulations to prevent the debate. "If Kamala Harris is unable to recite her rehearsed lines for 90 minutes, that's her problem", Miller quipped.
Whether there will be subsequent clashes beyond the September 10 engagement, which has already been arranged, remains uncertain. Both sides have been at odds concerning dates, broadcast networks, and debate conditions for some time now. Trump recently challenged Harris to participate in a series of three encounters. Among other things, the Republican insists on an event on the conservative station Fox News - before a large audience.
However, one point is indisputable: the tussle between the two vice-presidential candidates. J.D. Vance and Tim Walz have agreed to a TV confrontation in October. This will take place on October 1 and will be organized by CBS.
Trump continues to criticize ABC News, labeling it as "ABC Deceitful News" due to what he perceives as biased reporting during an interview with US Senator Tom Cotton. The Harris camp has requested that the microphones of both candidates remain active throughout their agreed-upon joint TV appearance, citing Trump's alleged lack of self-control.
