Trump-Harris debate: an explosive but tightly framed TV moment

&Two months before the pre-election American presidential election, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will cross swords on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday (French time). A first debate with rather strict rules, which should not leave too much room for improvisation. < /p>

Due to an unusual presidential campaign – with outgoing President Joe Biden having left the race last July to ultimately give way to his vice-president – Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and her Republican opponent, former head of state Donald Trump, will debate for the very first time on the night of Tuesday, September 10 to Wednesday, September 11, 2024 (starting at 3 a.m. French time). Two months before the final election, which will determine the future president of the United States, this debate organized on ABC News could help the last undecided voters make their choice.

While the debate should not lack spice, given the casting and the stakes, the 90 minutes during which Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will face off will obey numerous rules put in place for the occasion. No opening remarks, 2 minutes to conclude at the end of the debate, microphones turned off when the candidates do not have the floor, no props or pre-written notes or even no questions asked between candidates… The show will be structured, but should still be a little more lively than the previous one which had opposed Joe Biden to Donald Trump.

Well-defined strategies

Kamala Harris says she is at a “fundamental disadvantage” against her rival. In order to ensure the debate can happen, she and her campaign have made concessions by agreeing to rules they believe favor Donald Trump. “Despite our concerns, we understand that Donald Trump may not participate in the debate, as he has previously threatened to do, if we do not accept his preferred format. We do not want to jeopardize the debate. That is why we have agreed to “all the proposed rules”, is written in a letter addressed to ABC, relayed by BFMTV.

The cause: the closing of microphones when the other candidate speaks. A rule “that will serve to protect Donald Trump from “direct exchanges”, believes the Democratic camp. The latter was undoubtedly counting on the aggressiveness shown by the billionaire in his campaign to take advantage of it during the debate. But the Republican party has instructed Donald Trump to be precisely “less aggressive” according to Pierre Bourgois, lecturer in political science at Catholic University of the West, on the set of France 24. And “by cutting the microphones, Donald Trump will be able to position himself as much calmer, more peaceful”. He could also step out of his usual territory and leave aside personal attacks to go to that of ideas and challenge his rival on the substance. This positioning could be a way for Donald Trump to convince undecided voters, when conversely aggressive behavior could turn them away from him. Especially since Kamala Harris must defend the record of President Joe Biden, unlike the Republican who left the White House in 2021.

Detailing the electoral programs

This debate is all the more important because it is the first – and possibly the last – between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The duel will be an opportunity for the Democratic candidate to detail her program. “We saw the interview she gave to CNN last week, for now, we are on relatively general, superficial considerations,” analyzes Pierre Bourgois. Kamala Harris made a good impression by placing the right to abortion, then the subject of purchasing power as priorities and by mentioning immigration to address moderate right-wing voters. But she must now clarify her remarks and defend the record of the past four years.

But this debate will above all be the moment for Kamala Harris to prove that she knows how to stand up to an incisive Donald Trump. “We don't know how [Kamala Harris] stands when she's cornered, when she's pushed into a corner,” says Pierre Bourgois. Facing her is a regular on the sets, seasoned in campaign debates. The billionaire has already multiplied attacks on her competitor, for example by questioning her origins.

For the moment, the latest opinion polls show Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump neck and neck. Caution is all the more necessary since the American presidential election is being held by indirect universal suffrage. The suspense is therefore at its peak…