Kamala Harris and Donald Trump to face off in first debate: What are the rules?

US Vice President Kamala Harris and

former President

Donald Trump will engage in their first direct

debate

on Tuesday, September 10, marking a pivotal moment in the fiercely competitive

presidential race

. The 90-minute debate, hosted by

ABC News

, is poised to shape public perception as both candidates vie for a critical advantage.
Debate format and rules

ABC News, which is organizing the event, revealed the official debate rules following weeks of intense negotiations between the two campaigns.

The debate will be held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia at 9:00 pm local time (6:30am Indian time). With no live audience present, the event will be broadcast nationwide, moderated by ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.
Decision on muting microphones

Among the most discussed elements of the debate preparation was the decision on muting microphones, a contentious issue following the heated exchanges during a previous debate between President Joe Biden and Trump. To ensure smoother proceedings, ABC has mandated that each candidate's microphone will be active only during their allotted speaking time and muted when it’s the other candidate's turn to speak.
No opening statements, only timed responses

The candidates will not deliver opening statements. Instead, the format allows each candidate two minutes to respond to the moderator's questions, followed by an additional two minutes for rebuttals. A final one-minute window will be available for clarifications or follow-up responses.
At the conclusion of the debate, both candidates will deliver two-minute closing statements, with Trump speaking last, as determined by a virtual coin toss.
Guidelines on props and communication
The debate will feature strict guidelines to prevent any disruptions or outside assistance. Both Harris and Trump will stand behind podiums, without any props or pre-prepared notes. They will only be provided a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water. Furthermore, neither candidate's campaign staff will be allowed to interact with them during the commercial breaks, ensuring a fair and uninterrupted exchange between the two.