In what has been considered largely civil for the first and only vice-presidential debate of the 2024 election, a heated argument resulted in both Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance‘s microphones being temporarily muted.
Both candidates shook hands after taking the stage at CBS Studios Tuesday evening and moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan ran through the rules.
“CBS News reserves the right to mute the candidates’ microphones to maintain decorum,” O’Donnell said during the opening of the debate.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a vice presidential debate with Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York City.
Matt Rourke/AP
After responding to a question about Donald Trump’s proposal to conduct mass deportation of migrants, including Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, who he falsely claimed are in the country illegally, Walz said, “It becomes a talking point. And when it becomes a talking point like this, we dehumanize and villainize other human beings.”
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats, they’re eating, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump said then.
Vance did not attempt to walk back or apologize for his baseless claims about Haitian migrants in Springfield, he continued to state they were in the U.S. illegally — which they are not.
Before O’Donnell pivoted the debate toward the economy, Brennan noted Springfield, Ohio, has a large number of Haitian immigrants with legal status.
“Just to clarify for our viewers, Springfield, Ohio, does have a large number of Haitian migrants, who have legal status,” Brennan said.
Vance talked over both moderators about an asylum application, with Walz chiming in to fact-check Vance, resulting in both candidates’ mics being muted.
“Gentlemen, the audience can’t hear you because your mics are cut. We have so much we want to get to,” O’Donnell said to the vice presidential hopefuls.
During the recent vice presidential debate between Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence, a controversial moment occurred when the moderator, Susan Page, had to step in and enforce the rule of muting the microphones of both candidates during a heated exchange.
The altercation began when Vice President Pence repeatedly interrupted Senator Harris while she was trying to answer a question about the Trump administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. As tensions escalated, Page made the decision to mute both candidates’ microphones in order to allow for a more orderly and respectful debate.
This move sparked a debate among viewers and political analysts about the effectiveness of muting the candidates’ mics during debates. Some argued that it was necessary to maintain decorum and allow each candidate to speak without being constantly interrupted. Others criticized the decision, saying that it limited the candidates’ ability to engage in a free-flowing debate and express their views.
Despite the controversy, many agreed that the muting of the candidates’ mics was a necessary step to ensure a fair and productive debate. It allowed both Senator Harris and Vice President Pence to make their points without being constantly talked over, and ultimately helped to keep the debate on track.
Moving forward, it will be interesting to see if muting candidates’ mics becomes a more common practice in future debates. While some may argue that it limits the candidates’ ability to engage in a lively discussion, others believe that it is essential in order to maintain order and allow for a more substantive exchange of ideas.
In conclusion, the muting of both candidates’ mics during the vice presidential debate altercation was a controversial but ultimately necessary step to ensure a fair and productive debate. It sparked a debate about the role of moderators in maintaining decorum during debates, and may influence how future debates are conducted.
