when Donald Trump On Thursday he faces Joe Biden in a final televised debate, with each candidate’s microphones cut off while the other delivers responses to questions.
The 90-minute discussion is divided into six 15-minute segments, with each candidate given two minutes to provide uninterrupted notes before initiating an open discussion.
The Nonpartisan Committee for Presidential Debates (CPD) announced Monday that “in order to enforce this agreed rule, the only candidate who will open his microphone during these two-minute periods is the candidate who has the word under the rules.” Both microphones will be unmuted for the open discussion.
“We have realized, after discussions with the two campaigns, that either campaign may be completely satisfied with the actions announced today. One might think that they are going too far, and one might think that they are not going far enough. We are comfortable because these are,” the commission added in a statement. The measures strike the right balance and are in the interest of the American people, for the sake of which these discussions are held. “
The Trump campaign voiced opposition to the change, but said the Republican would still participate in an event Thursday night, one of his last opportunities to reach a large prime-time audience before voting ends on November 3.
President Trump is committed to the discussion Joe Biden Campaign manager Bill Stephen said, regardless of last-minute regulations changes from the biased committee in its last attempt to offer an advantage to their preferred candidate.
The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the circumstances of the debate were unfair: “I will participate but it is not fair for them to change the topics and it is unfair to once again have a completely biased anchor.”
Next comes the rule change First chaotic debate On September 30, the presidential candidates talked constantly about each other, with Trump relentlessly boycotting and attacking his Democratic opponent.
Trump intervened so frequently that Biden lost his patience at one point and said, “Are you shut up, man? This is very informal.”
Republicans Trump criticized the CPD for canceling the second discussion due to safety concerns after Trump was diagnosed with Covid-19.
Earlier on Monday, the Trump campaign challenged the topics of some of the questions that panelist, NBC news correspondent Christine Welker, chose to discuss. At a recent rally, Trump realized that Welker was “extremely unfair”. He also tweeted, “It was always horrible and unfair, just like most Fake News reporters, but I’m still playing the game.”
