With less than a week until the Sept. 10 presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hosted by ABC News, the network on Wednesday released the set of rules that will govern the matchup.
The debate, which will be moderated by “World News Tonight” anchor and managing editor David Muir and ABC News Live “Prime” anchor Linsey Davis, will mark the first in-person debate between Harris and Trump and will feature 90 minutes of debate time, with two commercial breaks.
The debate will be held in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center and will have no audience in the room.
Microphones will be live only for the candidate whose turn it is to speak and muted when the time belongs to another candidate. Only the moderators will be permitted to ask questions.
A coin flip was held virtually on Tuesday to determine the podium placement and the order of closing statements; former President Trump won the coin toss and chose to select the order of statements. The former president will offer the last closing statement, and Vice President Harris selected the right podium position on screen, i.e., stage left.
There will be no opening statements, and closing statements will be two minutes per candidate.
Each candidate will be allotted two minutes to answer each question with a two-minute rebuttal, and an additional minute for a follow-up, clarification, or response.
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Getty Images
Candidates will stand behind podiums for the duration of the debate and no props or pre-written notes will be allowed on stage. Each candidate will be given a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water.
Campaign staff may not interact with candidates during commercial breaks.
The debate will be produced in conjunction with ABC station WPVI and will air live at 9 p.m. ET on the network and on the ABC News Live 24/7 streaming network, Disney+ and Hulu.
ABC News will also air a pre-debate special, “Race for the White House,” at 8 p.m. ET, anchored by chief global affairs correspondent and “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz, chief Washington correspondent and “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl, chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce and senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott.
As previously announced by ABC News, to formally qualify for the debate, the participants had to meet various qualification requirements, including polling thresholds and appearing on enough state ballots to theoretically be able to get a majority of electoral votes in the presidential election.
ABC News has released the rules for the upcoming debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, set to take place on Sept. 10. The rules outline the format and guidelines that will govern the highly anticipated event, which is expected to draw a large audience and have a significant impact on the political landscape.
According to ABC News, the debate will be divided into several segments, each focusing on a specific topic or issue of importance. The moderators will pose questions to both candidates, who will have a set amount of time to respond. The rules also stipulate that each candidate will have the opportunity to offer a rebuttal to their opponent’s statements.
In addition to the format of the debate, the rules also address other important aspects of the event. For example, candidates will not be allowed to use electronic devices during the debate, and they will be required to adhere to strict time limits for their responses. The rules also prohibit candidates from interrupting each other or speaking out of turn, in order to ensure a fair and orderly exchange of ideas.
The release of these rules comes amid heightened tensions between the two candidates, as they prepare to face off in what is sure to be a closely watched and hotly contested debate. Both Harris and Trump have been actively campaigning and engaging with voters in recent weeks, and the debate will provide them with a crucial opportunity to make their case to the American people.
Overall, the rules for the Sept. 10 debate between Harris and Trump reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency, and civility. By establishing clear guidelines for the event, ABC News is helping to ensure that voters have the opportunity to hear from both candidates in a structured and informative manner. As the date of the debate approaches, all eyes will be on Harris and Trump as they prepare to make their final pitch to voters before Election Day.
