Former President Donald Trump is considering skipping a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on September 10th, according to a statement he made on Sunday. The decision comes after both campaigns issued conflicting statements about whether the microphone should be muted during the debate.
Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with ABC News and their handling of an interview with Senator Tom Cotton. He questioned the network’s impartiality and stated, “Why would I do the debate against Kamala Harris on that network?” In a subsequent interview at a Vietnamese restaurant in Falls Church, Virginia, Trump elaborated on his concerns about ABC News’ treatment of the Cotton interview.
The former president stated that he wants to participate in the debate but is considering doing it with another network. He also mentioned that there have been discussions about changing the rules for the debate but did not provide further details. Trump emphasized his desire for a fair debate and expressed his preference for networks like NBC, CBS, Fox News, or even CNN.
Meanwhile, both campaigns released statements indicating an impasse over whether microphones should be turned on or off during the event. Trump voiced his preference for having his microphone switched on throughout the debate. During his previous CNN-hosted debate with President Joe Biden, his microphone was frequently muted.
In response to Trump’s comments and social media post criticizing ABC News’ handling of interviews and debates, Harris spokesperson Brian Fallon stated that they want their microphones to remain on during the entire event. Fallon urged Trump to stop hiding behind mute buttons.
Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller countered by stating that they had already agreed to abide by the same rules as their previous CNN-hosted debate in June and insisted there should be no changes.
Representatives from ABC News have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this matter.
It is worth noting that Harris secured her party’s nomination after Biden stepped aside last month. Both Biden and Trump had previously agreed to participate in debates hosted by ABC News before Biden withdrew from contention.
While Trump proposed another televised town hall-style event hosted by Fox News if Harris declined their scheduled September 10th debate, her campaign has shown no interest in this alternative arrangement.
The vice presidential candidates are also set to engage in a separate televised debate scheduled for October 1st on CBS News between Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.