Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are just one day away from facing each other in their first prime-time presidential debate.
The pair’s faceoff on Tuesday will take place at 9 p.m. Eastern at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
But will there be a live audience? And what issues will be discussed?
Here are the answers to those questions and many more regarding the Sept. 10 debate between the two leading candidates for president.
Will there be a live audience?
There will be no live audience during the debate. This will be only the second presidential debate since 1960 not to have an in-person crowd to gauge the candidates’ performance. The first time came when CNN decided against a live audience during Trump and President Joe Biden’s first presidential debate in June, breaking decades of precedent.
There will also be no opening statements from the two candidates. However, a two-minute closing statement will be allowed from Harris and Trump.
What issues will the candidates discuss?
Immigration, abortion, and the economy will likely take center stage during the 90-minute debate Tuesday evening.
Border issues have risen to the forefront of the 2024 election cycle as Trump has attacked Harris for the record levels of illegal immigration taking place during her tenure as vice president. Harris has argued she was never a “border czar” in charge of immigration at the southern border, and she has accused Trump of derailing a bipartisan border deal put on the table earlier this year.
Polling shows economic issues, such as the cost of living and inflation, are also top of mind for voters. Both candidates have come forward with policy proposals. Harris unveiled an economic policy blueprint indicating she would support price-control measures last month. Trump has expressed concern that tax cuts from his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will expire soon and has reiterated his promise to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits and on tips for restaurant and hospitality workers.
Abortion will likely be discussed as voters in numerous states will decide on reproductive rights this fall. Democrats have made the topic a top talking point for their base, and in battleground states such as Arizona, it could serve to galvanize voter turnout in favor of Harris.
Meanwhile, Trump has taken a moderate approach to abortion policy ahead of Election Day, attracting the ire of some anti-abortion groups. The former president believes states should decide abortion laws, and his daughter-in-law, Lara, helped spearhead efforts at the Republican National Convention to moderate the GOP’s platform on abortion earlier this summer.
What are the candidates saying about ABC?
ABC hosts David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the second presidential debate.
Trump praised CNN hosts after they moderated the first presidential debate on June 27. However, he has expressed displeasure that ABC was selected to oversee his debate with Harris.
“I think a lot of people will be watching to see how nasty they are, how unfair they are,” he said Wednesday during a Fox News town hall. Trump has reserved special ire for the network’s George Stephanopoulos and Jonathan Karl in the past and called out Harris and Dana Walden’s friendship as a conflict of interest. Walden is a top executive at ABC’s parent, Walt Disney Co.
“Her best friend is the head of the network,” Trump claimed last week as he denounced the vice president’s friendship with Walden.
The Harris campaign has indicated displeasure that one of ABC’s debate rules could disadvantage the vice president. The network said it would keep microphones off when it isn’t the candidate’s turn to speak.
“Vice President Harris, a former prosecutor, will be fundamentally disadvantaged by this format, which will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President,” the campaign wrote in a letter to ABC.
Nonetheless, Harris consented to abide by the rule.
“Notwithstanding our concerns, we understand that Donald Trump is a risk to skip the debate altogether, as he has threatened to do previously if we do not accede to his preferred format. We do not want to jeopardize the debate,” the campaign continued.
What role do presidential debates play?
Debates play an important role in helping voters determine who will serve in the White House. The first presidential debate between Trump and Biden in June quickly became one of the most consequential moments of the 2024 election cycle.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Biden’s campaign exit in July came largely due to fallout over his performance during the debate the previous month. His departure changed the dynamic of the race as it opened up the pathway for his No. 2 to challenge Trump.
The debate on Tuesday will be the first time Harris and Trump meet in person.