What happened
Donald Trump is publicly wavering on whether he will participate in his first and only confirmed debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Sept. 10. Trump suggested late Sunday that he might back out, accusing debate host ABC of broadcasting a "so-called Panel of Trump Haters." He said Monday he was still "thinking about" participating.
Who said what
Trump told reporters he wants to debate Harris but on "another network" with less "hostility." The Harris camp wanted to "change the rules" agreed upon earlier, leaving each candidate's microphone on instead of muting it between answers, he said, adding that it "doesn't matter to me, I'd rather have it probably on." Trump's stated preference for live mics "appeared to undercut his campaign's efforts to keep the same rules in place" as during his one debate against President Joe Biden, CNN said.
Microphones have been "unmuted for both candidates for most of televised presidential debate history," until Trump's October 2020 debate against Biden, The Associated Press said. That muted debate was "widely celebrated for being more substantive than the earlier matchup." But Democrats believe Harris "can get Trump to lose his cool and say something impolitic on mic," Politico said. Harris campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler said Trump's endorsement of hot mics "resolved" the issue, "unless Donald Trump allows his handlers to overrule him."
What next?
While Harris has agreed in principle to a second debate after Sept. 10, it's "not clear when or where that would happen," USA Today said. Vice-presidential candidates J.D. Vance and Tim Walz are scheduled to participate in their own debate on Oct. 1.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Macbeth: a ‘genuinely scary’ productionThe Week Recommends Daniel Raggett’s nightmarish modern-day staging is set in a boozer in gangland Glasgow
-
The Mastermind: Josh O’Connor stars in unconventional art heist movieThe Week Recommends Kelly Reichardt cements her status as the ‘queen of slow cinema’ with her latest film
-
The 8 best dark comedies of the 21st centuryFrom Santa Claus to suicide terrorism, these movies skewered big, taboo subjects
-
What does history say about Trump’s moves in Latin America?Today's Big Question ‘Bitter memories’ surface as the US targets Venezuela
-
Is the ceasefire in Gaza really working?Today's Big Question Neither Israel and Hamas has an interest in a full return to hostilities but ‘brutally simple arithmetic’ in region may scupper peace plan long-term
-
No Kings rally: What did it achieve?Feature The latest ‘No Kings’ march has become the largest protest in U.S. history
-
Push for Ukraine ceasefire collapsesFeature Talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were called off after the Russian president refused to compromise on his demands
-
Trump eyes regime change in VenezuelaFeature Officials believe Trump’s ‘war on narco-terrorism’ is actually a push to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
-
‘Social media is the new tabloid’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Lowered training standards and ‘athletically allergic’ hopefuls are hindering the White House plan to turn the Department of Homeland Security into a federal police force
-
Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy
