Posted in: ABC, TV | Tagged: ABC, donald trump, kamala harris

ABC Rolls Out VP Harris/Trump Debate Rules: Muted Mics, No Audience

ABC News rolled out the rules for September 10th's debate between VP Kamala Harris and Donald Trump: muted mics, no audience, and more.

We've got ourselves a debate! Well, at least for now – it is a long road between now and Tuesday, September 10th. But for the time being, Vice-President Kamala Harris and ex-reality show host, multi-impeached ex-POTUS, and convicted felon Donald Trump will be facing off at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for ABC News' U.S. Presidential Debate. With World News Tonight anchor and managing editor David Muir and World News Tonight Sunday anchor and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis serving as moderators, the debate will air live on ABC and stream live on ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu (and is available for simulcast). Here's a look at how the rules shaped up – including mics being muted between answers and no debate audience.

The debate will be 90 minutes with two commercial breaks.

The two seated moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, will be the only people asking questions.

A coin flip was held virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 3, to determine podium placement and order of closing statements; 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 (stage left).

Candidates will be introduced by the moderators.

The candidates enter upon introduction from opposite sides of the stage; the incumbent party will be introduced first.

No opening statements; closing statements will be two minutes per candidate.

Candidates will stand behind podiums for the duration of the debate.

Props or prewritten notes are not allowed onstage.

No topics or questions will be shared in advance with campaigns or candidates.

Candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water.

Candidates will have two-minute answers to questions, two-minute rebuttals, and one extra minute for follow-ups, clarifications, or responses.

Candidates' microphones will be live only for the candidate whose turn it is to speak and muted when the time belongs to another candidate.

Candidates will not be permitted to ask questions of each other.

Campaign staff may not interact with candidates during commercial breaks.

Moderators will seek to enforce timing agreements and ensure a civilized discussion.

There will be no audience in the room.

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