Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Set for First Presidential Debate: What to Expect

With just under two months until the U.S. presidential election, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are gearing up for their first face-to-face debate on Tuesday. The former Republican president and current Democratic vice president are locked in a competitive race, both in national polls and key swing states.

This primetime debate, broadcast on ABC News, marks the first time Harris and Trump will face each other directly. While it’s their first debate together, Trump has already debated President Joe Biden earlier this year before Biden stepped down from the race in June.

**When and Where is the Debate?**

The debate is scheduled for 9:00 PM EDT (2:00 AM BST) on Tuesday, September 10. It will be broadcast live from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and will last 90 minutes, including two commercial breaks. There will be no live audience.

Viewers can watch it live on the BBC News channel, or follow along on the BBC News website and app, with reporters on the ground in Philadelphia and Washington providing live analysis, fact-checking, and reactions.

**The Race for the White House**

Both candidates are running neck-and-neck in this election. This debate provides a crucial opportunity for each to make their case to voters, especially as clips from the event will be widely shared across social media. For Harris, this debate is especially important since her campaign so far has largely involved scripted public appearances. A recent Siena College poll, released by the New York Times, shows many voters are still unclear about her positions.

**Debate Format and Rules**

ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the debate. To avoid interruptions, microphones will be muted when one candidate is speaking—a rule first implemented in the previous debate between Trump and Biden in 2020. Harris’s team had initially advocated for live microphones throughout, arguing that the current rules shield Trump from more direct exchanges.

The candidates will be provided only a pen, notepad, and water, with no props or pre-written notes allowed on stage. Additionally, neither candidate will be permitted to leave their lecterns, as Trump famously did during his debate with Hillary Clinton in 2016.

**What to Watch For**

Debates are pivotal moments in any campaign and can dramatically alter the trajectory of the race. This debate will be particularly significant for Harris, as it offers her a rare chance to engage with voters in an unscripted environment. Trump, meanwhile, has already participated in debates this year, and his team is focusing on perfecting the "theatrics" of his performance.

**How Are the Candidates Preparing?**

Harris is working with Washington attorney Karen Dunn, who has assisted Democratic candidates in debate preparation for nearly 20 years. Former Clinton adviser Philippe Reines, who previously played the role of Trump in mock debates, is reprising that role for Harris.

Trump’s approach involves interacting with voters and refining his stage presence, according to his team. His advisers include former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who clashed with Harris during the 2020 Democratic primaries, and Florida congressman Matt Gaetz.

**Will There Be More Debates?**

On October 1, Trump’s running mate JD Vance and Harris’s counterpart Tim Walz will participate in a vice-presidential debate on CBS News. As for future presidential debates, Trump has called for at least two more, favoring a setting moderated by Fox News with a live audience. Harris's campaign has stated it will decide on participating in a second debate after the first one has concluded.

The non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which usually organizes these events, has been sidelined this year, with the campaigns working directly with TV networks instead. The Commission had initially planned three debates for September and October, but negotiations broke down, with the Biden campaign blamed for breaking with tradition.