Michael Tyler, the communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, taunted Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump over the ongoing debate over the rules that will govern Trump and Harris’s debate next month.
After reportedly both agreeing to an ABC News debate under the same conditions as June’s CNN debate — at which the other candidate’s microphone was muted while the other was speaking — the Harris campaign has sought to renegotiate that point so that both microphones would be on at all times. According to various reports, the status of the debate itself had been thrown into question by this disagreement.
But on Monday, Trump himself came out in favor of having the mics turned on for the duration of the debate, telling reporters that while the campaigns had “agreed” to the same rules as the CNN debate, it “doesn’t matter” to him. “I’d rather have it [the microphone] probably on,” said Trump.
On MSNBC, Tyler took the opportunity to needle Trump by implying that his “handlers” don’t trust him.
“I think her [Harris’s] position is the same as Donald Trump’s position on this, because he went on to say, in that same interaction, that he doesn’t care,” said Tyler. “It doesn’t matter to him whether or not the mics are hot and, frankly, that he would prefer if they were hot. So I think this issue is resolved unless Donald Trump allows his handlers to overrule him. We’ll have a fulsome debate between the two candidates, with live microphones, where both candidates will be able to lay out their vision for where they want to take this country.”
Anchor José Díaz-Balart expressed his astonishment that either party would pull out of the debate over such “trite” problem and pushed Tyler on whether it was a “make it or break it” issue for the Harris campaign.
“No, it shouldn’t be. Because again: Donald Trump again today himself said it doesn’t matter to him, that he’s comfortable with live microphones throughout the debate,” said Tyler.
Díaz-Balart continued to press him, asking, “Does it matter to the Harris debate — to the Harris campaign matter, if it’s open or not? I mean, is that enough to stop –”
“That is absolutely our preference. That is absolutely our preference in this campaign to have live microphones so that the American people can see both candidates for who they are and hear everything that comes out of their mouths,” said Tyler. “Donald Trump will be on that debate stage, and he will talk about his plans to ban abortion. He’ll interject, he’ll rant, he’ll rave.”
Watch above via MSNBC.
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com
Most Popular
Comments / 0