Trump doubts ABC debate with Harris

What happened

Donald Trump is publicly wavering on whether he will participate in his first and only confirmed debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Sept. 10. Trump hinted late Sunday that he might withdraw, accusing debate moderator ABC of airing a “so-called panel of Trump haters.” On Monday, he said he was “still thinking about” participating.

Who said what

Trump told reporters he wanted to debate Harris, but on a “different network” with less “hostility.” The Harris camp wanted to “change the previously agreed-upon rules” by keeping each candidate’s microphone on rather than muting it between answers, he said, adding that “I don’t care, I probably would rather have it on.” Trump’s stated preference for live microphones “seems to undermine his campaign team’s efforts to maintain the same rules” as during his only debate against President Joe Biden, according to CNN.

Until Trump’s debate against Biden in October 2020, the microphones for both candidates had been “unmuted for most of the history of televised presidential debates,” according to The Associated Press. That muted debate was “widely celebrated for being more factual than the previous face-offs.” But Democrats believe Harris “can make Trump lose his cool and say something apolitical on the microphone,” according to Politico. Harris campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said Trump’s endorsement of hot mics “solved” the problem, “unless Donald Trump allows his advisers to overrule him.”

What happens next?