Vice President Kamala Harris has officially agreed to the rules for the upcoming ABC News debate against former President Donald Trump after securing specific "assurances" from the network.

Despite initially opposing key aspects of the debate format, the Harris campaign ultimately capitulated and accepted the rules following concerns over microphone muting and crosstalk, as Fox News reports.

The debate, scheduled for next Tuesday, will be governed by several agreed-upon rules, one of which involves muting the candidates' microphones while their opponent is speaking.

This rule has been a point of contention for the Harris campaign. On Wednesday, ABC News released the final debate guidelines, but Harris’s team had raised objections, particularly regarding the microphone muting rule.

Harris Campaign Sought to Change Debate Format

Initially, the Harris campaign pushed to renegotiate the rules, citing concerns that the muted microphones would disadvantage Harris and prevent meaningful exchanges with Trump. Harris’s team argued that the format would allow Trump to avoid direct debate interactions. However, the campaign eventually relented after receiving certain reassurances from ABC News.

These assurances included the possibility that microphones could be turned on if significant cross talk occurred between Harris and Trump, ensuring the audience could follow the debate. ABC also confirmed that moderators would step in to explain any unheard conversations to viewers, allowing them to grasp the context of any muted exchanges. Additionally, pool reporters would be present to report on any off-camera conversations.

Both Campaigns Formally Agree to Rules

ABC News has emphasized that both campaigns mutually agreed to the final debate rules as of May 15. The network spokesperson stated that no additional agreements beyond the published rules were made with either campaign. “We look forward to moderating the presidential debate next Tuesday,” an ABC spokesperson said, reaffirming the rules set for the event.

Despite receiving the assurances, the Harris campaign continued to express its dissatisfaction with the format. In a formal letter, they reiterated their concern that the debate rules could put Harris at a disadvantage, particularly in terms of having direct exchanges with Trump. The campaign’s letter implied that this could have been a strategy by the Trump campaign to shield the former president from tough questioning.

Trump Criticizes Harris Campaign’s Objections

The Trump campaign responded critically to Harris's attempts to change the rules after they had already been agreed upon. Trump's team accused Harris of trying to shift the goalposts and claimed her objections were sudden and unnecessary. Trump’s campaign has maintained that the agreed-upon format is fair and that Harris’s objections are an attempt to gain an advantage.

Harris’s team, in turn, raised concerns that Trump might back out of the debate altogether if his preferred format was not honored. According to the letter sent by the Harris campaign, there were fears that Trump could use his dissatisfaction with the debate structure as an excuse to withdraw from the event. They also mentioned that Trump had made similar threats in the past, leading to uncertainty about his participation.

Assurances Address Harris Campaign Concerns

However, in light of these concerns, the Harris campaign decided to accept the full set of rules proposed by ABC, despite their reservations. The decision was based on their desire not to jeopardize the debate itself, as Harris remains the presumptive Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race in July.

“Notwithstanding our concerns, we understand that Donald Trump is a risk to skip the debate altogether,” the Harris campaign claimed in the letter. Campaign officials contended that this supposed risk of withdrawal was a driving factor behind their decision to proceed under the current rules.

ABC Denies Secret Deals Outside of Published Rules

In response to questions about the nature of the agreements made between the campaigns, ABC News emphasized that the only agreements reached were the ones published. The network denied any behind-the-scenes negotiations beyond the rules announced on May 15, stating that all guidelines were mutually accepted by both campaigns without additional provisions.

ABC has also made clear that the format, including the contentious microphone muting rule, was agreed to by both sides. They affirmed that the moderation team would ensure the debate remains fair and balanced, with steps taken to prevent either candidate from dominating the conversation.

Conclusion: Both Sides Set for High-Stakes Debate

As both campaigns prepare for what is expected to be a heated debate, the final rules have now been settled.

The Harris campaign, though initially resistant to the format, has agreed to proceed after securing assurances from ABC News regarding potential cross talk and microphone muting.

Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has stood firm in its support of the original rules, criticizing the Harris team for attempting last-minute changes.

With the debate looming, all eyes will be on both candidates next Tuesday as they face off under the agreed-upon guidelines.