Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly agreed to the final rules for the debate with former President Trump after receiving some “assurances” from ABC News.
on wednesday, ABC News It released the official rules for Tuesday's debate between Harris and Trump, including the hotly debated rule that microphones be muted while the candidates are speaking.
The Harris campaign has repeatedly resisted the rules, trying to get Trump to withdraw from an initial agreement to mute his microphone and refusing to sign the rules last week after trying to renegotiate them.
CNN reported: Harris said Wednesday that she accepted the rules after receiving separate “assurances” that she could have her microphone on during the debate and that the moderators would explain any exchanges she missed.
The Harris campaign reportedly sent a letter to ABC News confirming Vice President Kamala Harris' participation in the debate. (AP/Stephen B. Morton)
Trump accelerates campaign schedule, “prepares” for debate
“ABC News has assured the Harris campaign that if there is a significant altercation between Harris and Trump, the network may turn on microphones so viewers can understand what is going on, and that hosts will be careful not to interrupt either candidate too frequently and will try to explain to viewers what is being said, sources familiar with the matter said,” CNN reported.
The source added that a contingent of reporters was also in the room to report on what was heard while the microphones aimed at the television audience were muted.
An ABC spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “No agreements have been reached beyond the debate rules announced today, which were agreed to by the two sides on May 15. We look forward to hosting next Tuesday's presidential debate.”
The Harris campaign sent a letter to the networks formally accepting the debate rules, but still expressed dissatisfaction with the terms.
“Vice President Harris, a former prosecutor, would be fundamentally disadvantaged by this format, which would shield Donald Trump from direct communication with the VP, which we believe is a primary reason why the Trump campaign is insisting on muting microphones,” the letter read.
The Harris campaign has asked ABC News to change its rules on muting microphones during the debate. (Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
They continued, “Despite our concerns, we understand that if we do not adhere to his desired format, Donald Trump runs the risk of missing the debate altogether, as he has previously threatened to do. We do not want to jeopardize the debate. For this reason, we will accept all of the rules proposed by ABC, including muting microphones.”
Trump campaign official accuses Harris team of trying to seek 'escape route' ahead of debate: 'They're scared'
After Biden dropped out of the race in July, Harris' campaign insisted on hosting the previously agreed-upon presidential debate on ABC. But weeks after Trump agreed, Harris' campaign began trying to change the rules so that microphones would be on throughout the debate.
Harris and former President Donald Trump have been sparring over the rules of the upcoming ABC News presidential debate. (Getty Images)
While Trump has sounded positive about the idea, he and his campaign criticized the Harris campaign for suddenly demanding changes.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
