Ahead of Thursday’s presidential debate, the Commission on Presidential Debates has adopted a new rule: It will silence the microphones of candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden when it is not their time to speak.
The Commission cited the first presidential debate with Fox News moderator Chris Wallace, in which several interruptions occurred from both candidates and Wallace.
MUTED MICS: Presidential debate committee sets new precedent to mute the mics of those debating
Trump is so powerful on stage the rules of the game have to be rigged to silence him
Who wants a weak leader like Biden who can’t even win w/ normal rules?https://t.co/FDP27wQ0Og
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) October 20, 2020
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Presidential Debate Commission Explains How They Will Enforce This Rule
“Under the agreed upon debate rules, each candidate is to have two minutes of uninterrupted time to make remarks at the beginning of each 15 minute segment of the debate,” the statement read.
“These remarks are to be followed by a period of discussion,” it continued.
“Both campaigns this week again reaffirmed their agreement to the two-minute, uninterrupted rule.”
The statement then detailed how this rule will be enforced.
“The Commission is announcing today that in order to enforce this agreed upon rule, the only candidate whose microphone will be open during these two-minute periods is the candidate who has the floor under the rules,” it read.
Full statement from @debates: pic.twitter.com/jqvKxnehTZ
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) October 19, 2020
President Trump Blasts Rule And Debate Moderator Kristin Welker
The statement continued, “For the balance of each element, which by design is intended to be dedicated to open discussion, both candidates’ microphones will be open.”
The CPD acknowledged that “neither campaign may be totally satisfied with the measures today” but noted that it is “comfortable that these actions strike the right balance and that they are in the interest of the American people, for whom these debates are held.”
In response to the rule changes, President Trump’s campaign blasted the change, but said he was committed to the debate:
Trump camp says it’s in for debate “regardless of last minute rule changes from the biased commission in their latest attempt to provide advantage to their favored candidate.” Repeats claim that seems to have originated w Trump allies that this would be a foreign policy debate. pic.twitter.com/EXX1qu41Xu
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) October 20, 2020
NBC News’ Kristin Welker will be moderating Thursday’s debate.
Fox News reports that Welker has been a registered Democrat in Washington, DC and Rhode Island.
President Trump made clear his opinion on her in a Saturday tweet.
“She’s always been terrible & unfair, just like most of the Fake News reporters, but I’ll still play the game. The people know! How’s Steve Scully doing?”
She’s always been terrible & unfair, just like most of the Fake News reporters, but I’ll still play the game. The people know! How’s Steve Scully doing? https://t.co/uS3EWzfFPy
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2020
The presidential debate Thursday night will be the final face off between Donald Trump and Joe Biden scheduled for this election.