In a much-awaited development, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have reached an agreement on the rules for their first debate, according to an announcement by ABC News. The highly anticipated showdown is set to take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

The rules for the debate largely mirror those of Trump's previous 2024 debate with President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race in late July following criticism of his poor performance. ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the 90-minute face-off, and they will be the sole questioners of the two presidential nominees. Notably, there will be no involvement of voters or other officials in questioning Trump and Harris.

One key point of contention leading up to the debate was the handling of microphones. The Harris campaign initially called for the mics to remain on, even when a candidate was not speaking. However, they ultimately agreed to have the mics muted during such instances. In a letter obtained by CBS News, the Harris campaign expressed concerns that this format would disadvantage the vice president, as it would prevent direct exchanges with Donald Trump.

While Trump had previously expressed a preference for leaving the microphones on, he acknowledged that the two campaigns agreed to follow the same rules as the Trump-Biden debate in June, where the mics were muted. During a campaign stop in Virginia, he stated, "I didn't like it the last time but it worked out fine." Notably, he has assured that Harris will be given ample opportunity to speak during the debate, just as he allowed Biden to speak.

Another notable aspect of the debate is the absence of an audience, mirroring the June debate. Additionally, there will be no opening statements from the candidates, as they will be introduced by the moderators. Harris and Trump will enter the stage from opposite sides, with the Democratic party being introduced first, as the incumbent party.

Throughout the debate, the candidates will not be allowed to have pre-written notes on stage. Instead, they will each be provided with a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water. ABC News has emphasized that no topics or questions will be shared in advance with either campaign, and the candidates will not be permitted to interact with their campaign staff during the two scheduled commercial breaks.

However, Trump has recently claimed, without evidence, during a town hall that Harris will have access to questions in advance. It is important to note that there is no evidence to suggest that Harris will receive any topics beforehand, and there is no indication that Biden was aware of any questions during their previous debate.

The stage is now set for an intense face-off between Trump and Harris, as they prepare to showcase their policies and engage in direct exchanges. The nation will be eagerly watching this debate, which promises to be a crucial moment in the political landscape.