ABC has set the guidelines for the upcoming debate between Trump and Harris.
Taking place on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 9/8c, this 90-minute debate will have two commercial breaks. Each candidate gets two minutes to answer questions, with an extra two minutes for rebuttals and one more minute for follow-ups. Microphones will be muted when the other is speaking, and they can’t ask each other questions. A coin flip decided that Trump will give the last closing statement, and Harris’ podium will be on the right side.
Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis from ABC News will oversee the debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. There won’t be an audience, and they’ll make sure everything stays on time and civil. Candidates won’t know the topics or questions in advance, and no props or notes are allowed.
Earlier this year, Trump and Biden had agreed to a second debate on Sept. 10 to air on ABC. However, Trump recently claimed on Truth Social that this debate was “terminated” due to his ongoing lawsuit against ABC News, citing a “conflict of interest.”
Trump filed a lawsuit against ABC News on March 18, accusing George Stephanopoulos of defamation during a This Week segment where Stephanopoulos said Trump had been found liable for raping E. Jean Carroll. Although Trump was found liable for “sexually abusing” Carroll, the judge clarified it was a matter of legal semantics.
In response to Trump’s claim about the debate being canceled, Harris’ team stated: “Donald Trump is running scared and trying to back out of the debate he already agreed to.” They added that Trump proposed an earlier debate on Fox News but reassured that they are ready for more debates after the agreed-upon ABC one.
Fans are really looking forward to this showdown.
Trump previously debated Biden on June 27 in an intense CNN broadcast that raised questions about Biden’s age and mental sharpness. This event eventually led Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race.
Biden then endorsed Harris, who quickly gained enough support from Democratic delegates to become their nominee at last month’s Democratic National Convention.
This year’s Election Day falls on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
