In anticipation of their upcoming high-stakes September 10 debate, the campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump find themselves embroiled in a heated argument over whether microphones should be muted, except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak. Both candidates are under immense pressure to deliver a strong performance next month in Philadelphia, as the first debate during this campaign led to President Joe Biden's exit from the race.

The latest dispute centers on the muting of microphones when a candidate is not speaking, a condition that both Biden and Trump had accepted for their June debate hosted by CNN. However, both sides are now accusing each other of manipulating the system to protect their candidate's interests.

Mic muting became a condition set by Biden's campaign team in order to agree to any debates this year. However, some aides have expressed regret over this decision, stating that voters were shielded from hearing Trump's outbursts during the debate. Nevertheless, the Harris campaign is now advocating for live microphones at all times, with Harris spokesman Brian Fallon suggesting that Trump's team prefers muted microphones because they doubt their candidate can maintain a presidential demeanor for the full 90 minutes. Fallon further added that Harris is prepared to address Trump's constant lies and interruptions in real-time, calling on him to "stop hiding behind the mute button."

In response, Trump spokesman Jason Miller claimed that the Republican nominee had accepted the debate under the same terms as the CNN debate. He also alleged that Harris' representatives had requested a seated debate, notes, and opening statements, mocking Harris for not sitting for an interview or holding a news conference since she was endorsed by Biden. Miller insinuated that Harris now wants a "cheat sheet" for the debate, a claim firmly denied by the Harris campaign.

When asked about his preference for microphone muting, Trump stated that he would rather have them on. He mentioned his discontent with the policy during his previous debate with Biden but acknowledged that it ultimately worked out fine. Trump emphasized that the agreed-upon rules for his forthcoming debate with Harris should be the same as those for his previous debate.

Complicating the negotiations this year is the fact that debates are being orchestrated by host networks in an ad hoc manner, rather than through the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which traditionally negotiates debate rules privately. It is worth noting that microphones have historically remained unmuted for both candidates during televised presidential debates. However, in October 2020, the debate commission introduced the muting of microphones when candidates were not recognized to speak, following the unruly and chaotic nature of the first Biden-Trump debate. This subsequent debate, held under the microphone muting rules, was widely praised for its increased substantive discussion.

As the debate date draws closer, the clash over microphone muting reflects the intense stakes and preparations being made by both campaigns. It remains to be seen whether an agreement can be reached to satisfy both sides, ensuring a fair and orderly exchange of ideas during the highly anticipated debate.