Trump “didn’t like” muted microphones at debate, but says “it should be that way”

Harris’ campaign is pushing to change the rules for the Sept. 10 ABC News debate between her and Trump so that microphones will not be muted throughout the debate. During Trump’s debate with President Joe Biden in June, microphones were turned off when the candidate was not speaking.

The muted microphones were a request from the Biden-Harris campaign for the June debate, and Harris’ team criticized Trump for trying to change the parameters in future debates with Harris. But her camp tried to change the rules itself days before the two faced off.

Trump responded to the candidacy debate at a campaign rally in Falls Church, Virginia, on Monday morning, saying that while he was not a fan of the muting rule, it should remain the same as it was at the previous debate.

“We agree to the same rules. I don’t know, I don’t care. I would rather [the microphones] “It was probably on, but the agreement was that it would be the same as last time. In this case, it was muted,” Trump said.

“I didn’t like it last time, but it worked out well. Ask Biden how it worked out. It was good, and I think it should be the same way,” he added.

The former president expressed suspicion that the Harris campaign’s attempt to change the rules was a way for the vice president to exit the debate.

“We agreed to the same rules — the same rules and the same guidelines. And I think that’s probably how it should be, but they’re trying to change that. The truth is, they’re trying to get out of it because she doesn’t want to debate. She’s not a good debater. She’s not a smart person. She doesn’t want to debate,” Trump said.

Brian Fallon, the Harris campaign’s senior communications adviser, responded to Trump’s statement in an X-post, saying that Trump had “resolved” the matter with the statement and that now “everything is set for September 10.”

Trump said that unmuting the microphones “doesn’t matter to me.” He always suspected that it was something his staff wanted, not him personally.

Now that this has been clarified, everything is ready for September 10. https://t.co/l98QiTD9lh

– Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) 26 August 2024

“Trump said that ‘I don’t care’ about unmuting the microphones. I always suspected that was something his staff wanted, not him personally. With that cleared up, everything is now ready for September 10,” Fallon said on X.

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That reaction came despite the former president saying in the clip over the muted microphones at the June debate that he didn’t think the rules should be changed.

The ABC News debate between Trump and Harris is scheduled for Sept. 10 in Philadelphia, with both campaigns leaving open the possibility of an October debate. A vice presidential debate between Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), and Harris’ running mate, Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), is scheduled to be moderated by CBS News on Oct. 1.