In the 2024 race for the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris challenged former President Donald Trump to a debate with a special condition: the microphone would be open throughout the event. Harris argued that this would help voters better see Trump’s uncontrolled speech, a weakness he often encountered in previous debates.
Ms. Harris spoke out on social network X (formerly Twitter), criticizing that Mr. Trump was following the advice of his advisers to avoid debates with microphones always on. She argued that if Trump’s team did not trust him, the American people could not trust his leadership ability.
ABC, which will host the debate on September 10, initially had a policy that microphones would be turned off when candidates were not speaking and that no audience members would be allowed in. However, Harris’s campaign is pushing for a change to ensure that both candidates’ statements are recorded.
The “always-on” condition can be a double-edged sword, as in the tense environment of a debate, candidates can be exposed for inappropriate statements or have their mics “hijacked” by their opponents. However, Ms. Harris believes this will bring transparency and help voters have a more realistic view of the candidates.
The confrontation between Harris and Trump promises to be very tense, especially since both are influential figures in American politics. While Harris represents the Democratic Party, Trump is a strong candidate of the Republican Party and was President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. This debate is not only a personal confrontation, but also a battle of ideals and policies of the two parties in the current volatile political context.