ABC News has unveiled the official rules for the much-anticipated Sept. 10 debate between President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. The 90-minute debate will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and will be moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis. This will be the first in-person debate between the two presidential candidates.
The debate will have no live audience, and microphones will be active only for the candidate speaking. A coin toss decided that Trump will deliver the final closing statement, while Harris selected the right podium. No opening statements will be made, and each candidate will have two minutes to close the debate.
Candidates will have two minutes to respond to each question, followed by two-minute rebuttals and an additional minute for clarifications or follow-ups. The rules also prohibit the use of props or pre-written notes, though candidates will have access to a pen, a notepad, and water. Campaign staff will not be permitted to interact with the candidates during commercial breaks.
The debate will air live on ABC News, Disney+, and Hulu at 9 p.m. ET. A pre-debate special, “Race for the White House,” will air an hour earlier at 8 p.m., hosted by ABC’s top political analysts.
As the 2024 election heats up, this debate is expected to provide critical insight into each candidate’s positions and campaign strategies.
