5 Must-Know Insights from the Harris-Trump Presidential Showdown

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to face off in a highly anticipated debate next week, marking the only planned encounter between the leading Democratic and GOP candidates before the upcoming presidential election.

This debate comes after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race following a challenging debate performance against Trump in June. Following pressure to resign, Biden endorsed Harris, granting her the opportunity to contend for the Oval Office as the election approaches in just two months.

Despite some disagreements between the Harris and Trump campaigns regarding the rules, both candidates have finalized the debate procedures. ABC News, the host network, announced the regulations earlier this week.

Scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, the debate will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It will last 90 minutes, incorporating two commercial breaks, according to ABC.

Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state where both candidates have heavily campaigned, may play a pivotal role in deciding the election. The state had swung between parties in recent elections, with Biden winning in 2020 after Trump previously claimed it in 2016.

Viewers can watch the debate live on ABC News and stream it on ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu. Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News will oversee the discussion.

Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to questions, followed by two minutes for rebuttals, along with an extra minute for clarification on any points raised. Consistent with protocols from prior debates, microphones will be muted during non-speaking turns.

There will be no opening statements, and Trump has won a coin flip to determine the sequence of closing remarks, giving him the final statement. Statements will be limited to two minutes each. Notably, candidates are prohibited from using props or prewritten notes, although they will be provided with basic materials like pens and paper.

Unlike previous debates, this event will not feature a live audience at the National Constitution Center, and both candidates must refrain from consulting their campaign teams during commercial breaks.

In the lead-up to the debate, Trump criticized ABC News in an interview with Fox News, claiming that the network lacks fairness and has previously manipulated polls. He suggested, without evidence, that Harris would receive questions in advance, a claim ABC’s rules categorically refute.

Looking ahead, Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz will take on Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance at the vice presidential debate scheduled for October 1 in New York City.