Vice President Kamala Harris’s attempts to alter the rules for the upcoming ABC News debate with Donald Trump have come to an end after her campaign faced mounting pressure from multiple corners.

Harris's campaign has decided to follow the original debate rules after all, amid widespread opposition to the changes she initially sought to secure, as Breitbart reports.

The rules, which were agreed upon weeks earlier, stipulate that no notes, no sitting, no audience presence, and no open mics during the other party's answers will be permitted during the debate. These were conditions previously confirmed by both the Trump and Harris campaigns.

Initial Requests for Debate Rule Changes

The Harris campaign’s push for changes was largely centered on microphone usage during the debate. A source close to the campaign revealed that the vice president preferred unmuted microphones.

However, the proposal for unmuted microphones was met with resistance. Former President Donald Trump’s campaign strongly opposed the idea. Trump’s team made it clear they wanted the microphones to remain muted except when each candidate was speaking, which was consistent with prior debate rules.

ABC News Rejects Harris’s Request for Unmuted Mics

Despite the Harris campaign’s continued efforts to push for microphone adjustments, ABC News ultimately rejected the request. On Thursday, the network declined to make any exceptions, ensuring that the debate would follow the originally agreed-upon format. Harris’s request was intended to allow candidates to interject and respond freely, potentially showcasing their debate agility.

Trump had previously announced the details of the debate in a statement, confirming that it would be held on Sept. 10 in Philadelphia. In his statement, he referred to the debate as a showdown with Harris, accusing her campaign of aligning with the “Radical Left Democrats.” This statement underscored the contentious nature of the lead-up to the event.

Trump and Harris Teams Confirm Debate Rules

According to a senior Trump campaign aide, the Harris campaign officially conceded to the pre-established debate rules on Tuesday. The aide confirmed this development to Breitbart News, emphasizing that Harris’s campaign had caved under pressure and decided to accept the terms initially agreed upon.

“The Harris campaign caved on Tuesday and decided to go along with its previously agreed debate rules with no notes, no sitting, no audience, and no open mics,” the aide told Breitbart.

These rules were in place long before Harris began her push for changes. The debate dispute originally stemmed from agreements made during the Democratic primaries, when both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were participants.

Virtual Coin Toss to Determine Debate Order

As part of the preparations for the debate, ABC News will hold a virtual coin toss at 12:30 p.m. on the day of the event. The coin toss will determine the order of closing arguments and podium positions for the candidates. This element of the debate had also been agreed upon weeks ago as part of the standard process for ensuring fairness during the event.

Both the Trump and Harris campaigns confirmed the debate rules approximately two weeks ago. Since then, the Harris campaign had continued to push for modifications up until Wednesday.

Harris Campaign Pressured into Agreement

Sources within the Harris camp suggested that the campaign’s push for unmuted microphones was partially motivated by concerns over the media’s focus on the anniversary of the Afghanistan withdrawal. Harris’s team believed that unmuted microphones would allow for more dynamic exchanges and prevent the former president from dominating the conversation.

“She’s more than happy to have exchanges with him if he tries to interrupt her,” one insider said. “And given how shook he seems by her, he’s very prone to having intemperate outbursts and … I think the campaign would want viewers to hear [that].”

Despite these concerns, the Harris campaign ultimately backed down. On Tuesday, they agreed to follow the original rules without further objection.

Conclusion of the Debate Dispute

In the days leading up to the debate, both campaigns have made it clear that the event will proceed as planned. With Harris conceding to the original rules, the debate will feature no audience, no notes, and muted microphones except when the candidate is speaking.

The ABC News debate on Sept. 10 in Philadelphia marks a significant moment in the campaign season, with both sides hoping to gain an advantage from the event. Harris’s initial push for changes, and her subsequent concession, have highlighted the high stakes involved in this particular debate.

In conclusion, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign made several attempts to alter the debate format, particularly regarding microphone usage. Despite this, ABC News and Trump’s campaign remained firm, and Harris’s team ultimately accepted the original rules. The debate will go forward on Sept. 10, with the event expected to have significant political implications for both campaigns.