On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump will meet for their first debate — which will also be the first time they meet in person.
The debate, hosted by ABC News, will be held in Philadelphia using the same rules that were in place in June for the debate between Mr. Trump and President Biden.
Here is a rundown:
Microphones will be muted when a candidate is not talking.
This was a main point of contention between Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump. When Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden negotiated the terms of their debate in the spring, Mr. Biden insisted that each candidate’s microphone be muted when it wasn’t his turn to talk, to prevent Mr. Trump from interrupting or talking over his opponent as he has often done in debates.
Ms. Harris wanted to change this rule and keep both candidates’ microphones on at all times because she believed that if Mr. Trump did try to interrupt, it could turn off voters or create a moment that would benefit her — as in her 2020 vice-presidential debate with Mike Pence, when he interrupted, and she said, “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking.”
But Mr. Trump’s campaign, equally aware of that possibility, was not willing to change the rules that Mr. Biden had agreed to. Ultimately, Ms. Harris’s campaign backed down.
The candidates cannot ask each other questions.
Only the moderators will be allowed to do that.
There will be no audience.
This was another Biden request that is being carried over. Mr. Biden didn’t want Mr. Trump to be able to play to or off a supportive or rowdy audience.
No prepared notes or props are allowed.
The candidates cannot bring anything onto the stage with them, but they will be given paper and pen to take notes during the debate. This has been a standard rule for presidential debates for years.
Two minutes will be allowed for rebuttals.
The moderators can also grant an additional minute for follow-ups or clarifications.
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