Tensions are flaring between the Trump and Harris campaigns ahead of a critical presidential debate.
With the debate scheduled for next Tuesday on ABC News, controversy has arisen over the agreed-upon rules, particularly concerning microphone usage, Fox News reported.
Jason Miller, a senior adviser to former President Donald Trump, has accused Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign of seeking an "escape hatch" from the upcoming debate. Miller suggests that the Harris team is backtracking on previously agreed microphone rules.
Initially, the decision was to mute microphones during the opposing candidate’s speaking times, but Harris's campaign now seeks to modify this rule. The modification has sparked claims of the team attempting to avoid the debate.
"They're afraid," stated Miller during an appearance on "Sunday Morning Futures" with guest host Sean Duffy, implying that the Harris campaign fears the outcomes of the upcoming debate.
Amid these accusations, the Harris campaign has not yet signed off on the debate rules. Harris spokesperson Brian Fallon expressed concerns via an X post, stating both candidates had shown interest in maintaining open microphones throughout the debate.
"The memo sent by ABC is a draft set of rules that both campaigns need to sign off on and indicate agreement. We have not done so because we think both candidates have expressed a clear desire to have hot mics," wrote Fallon.
The Trump campaign, keen on preserving the original rules, remains in discussions with ABC about finalizing the terms. Miller criticizes the Harris team's later disapproval of the rules, despite their initial informal agreement.
Fallout over the debate rules has extended beyond mere procedural disagreements. Miller claims that after Harris’s team began preparing for the debate, they realized the challenges they faced, leading them to reconsider their strategy.
"The Harris campaign is looking for an escape hatch, looking for a way to get out of this debate," Miller expressed. He added that the rules under dispute were originally crafted by Democrats for a previous CNN debate which both sides had informally agreed to. In his retort, Miller also highlighted the Trump campaign’s view on the ongoing negotiations with ABC and the Harris team’s shifting positions: "We have a deal with ABC. ABC is with us on this," he solidified.
Complicating matters, Miller suggested Harris's team had attempted to change the nature of the debate itself by requesting a seated format with notes and opening statements, all of which were denied to keep the format consistent.
"If Kamala Harris isn’t smart enough to repeat the messaging points her handlers want her to memorize, that’s their problem," remarked Miller, underscoring his view of the Harris campaign's requests as unreasonable.
The conflict over debate preparations reveals deeper strategic concerns as both campaigns maneuver for advantage. Miller’s assertive comments reflect the ongoing battle of narratives between the two camps, as each camp tries to dictate the terms of engagement for the highly scrutinized event. As the debate date approaches, everyone will focus on whether these issues resolve or escalate further, shaping perceptions and strategies in the final stretches of the campaign season.
