Trump can boycott the debate if he doesn’t like the changes

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To be clear, because the commission is independent, it can determine the rules without getting approval from either side, so Trump can either accept the changes or he can boycott the debates (via The Washington Post). The Biden campaign has already promised to stick by the debate playbook as set by the commission. Spokesman Andrew Bates said, “Our position is clear: we will participate under the (commission’s) rules. The only real question left is whether the president will start following the rules in the next two debates” (via USA Today).

The second debate is being held under a different format and will take place in Miami on October 15. It will feature undecided voters who will be able to ask questions, which could change the dynamic. Trump campaign officials say the Biden team wants to see changes that will allow moderators to mute the candidates’ microphones, adding opening and closing statements, and limiting the “free discussion” period. 

Trump wants the rules to be fair: Kayleigh McEnany

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The president has taken to Twitter, making it clear we will not move forward with any changes, writing, “Why would I allow the Debate Commission to change the rules for the second and third Debates when I easily won last time?” to which one of his Twitter fans responded: “Because like everything evolving a Democrat. They have to change the rules i.e. cheat to even have a chance. Maybe they need to add rule the one has to answer a question instead of dancing around it. Joe never answered 1. He did lie on all though.” Another said: “Because Democrats can’t win anything without cheating, their end goal is to cancel the remaining debates. #MAGA”

The Washington Post reports that “President Trump and his top aides signaled Thursday that they would reject any changes to the presidential debate format,” which only leave one option: a boycott. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said, “[Trump] wants to debate. He plans on being at the debate. But he wants the rules to be fair and wants a fair exchange and doesn’t want rules that cover for a certain candidate’s inability to perform well.” She also added that “the only way there’s a fair debate is a change in the moderator and a change in the Democrat nominee” (via USA Today).

The Trump Campaign’s Response To Proposed Debate Changes Is Raising Eyebrows

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By Hope Ngo/Oct. 1, 2020 9:26 pm EST

This talk isn’t sitting well with Team Trump, who are claiming that both sides already agreed to a set of rules before the debates kicked off. A senior adviser to the presidential campaign, Jason Miller, said, “We do not want any changes to what has been laid out and already been agreed to for the second and third debates. We have not asked for any changes. The Biden camp has.” While Trump has the option of boycotting the debates if the procedures are changed, Miller says he “fully plans on participating” (via The Washington Post).

Trump can boycott the debate if he doesn’t like the changes

Pool/Getty Images

To be clear, because the commission is independent, it can determine the rules without getting approval from either side, so Trump can either accept the changes or he can boycott the debates (via The Washington Post). The Biden campaign has already promised to stick by the debate playbook as set by the commission. Spokesman Andrew Bates said, “Our position is clear: we will participate under the (commission’s) rules. The only real question left is whether the president will start following the rules in the next two debates” (via USA Today).

The second debate is being held under a different format and will take place in Miami on October 15. It will feature undecided voters who will be able to ask questions, which could change the dynamic. Trump campaign officials say the Biden team wants to see changes that will allow moderators to mute the candidates’ microphones, adding opening and closing statements, and limiting the “free discussion” period. 

The second debate is being held under a different format and will take place in Miami on October 15. It will feature undecided voters who will be able to ask questions, which could change the dynamic. Trump campaign officials say the Biden team wants to see changes that will allow moderators to mute the candidates’ microphones, adding opening and closing statements, and limiting the “free discussion” period. 

Trump bears the responsibility for what happened: Chris Wallace

Given the number of times Trump cut in as Biden spoke, Wallace put the burden of responsibility for taking the September 29 debate someplace no one could have predicted on the president’s shoulders, saying, “He bears the primary responsibility for what happened on Tuesday night. It was only 45 minutes in that I realized what just a total mess and disservice this was to the country and to try to stop it. Do I wish I had stepped in earlier? Yes, but, as I say, hindsight is 20/20.”

Trump wants the rules to be fair: Kayleigh McEnany

The president has taken to Twitter, making it clear we will not move forward with any changes, writing, “Why would I allow the Debate Commission to change the rules for the second and third Debates when I easily won last time?” to which one of his Twitter fans responded: “Because like everything evolving a Democrat. They have to change the rules i.e. cheat to even have a chance. Maybe they need to add rule the one has to answer a question instead of dancing around it. Joe never answered 1. He did lie on all though.” Another said: “Because Democrats can’t win anything without cheating, their end goal is to cancel the remaining debates. #MAGA”

The Washington Post reports that “President Trump and his top aides signaled Thursday that they would reject any changes to the presidential debate format,” which only leave one option: a boycott. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said, “[Trump] wants to debate. He plans on being at the debate. But he wants the rules to be fair and wants a fair exchange and doesn’t want rules that cover for a certain candidate’s inability to perform well.” She also added that “the only way there’s a fair debate is a change in the moderator and a change in the Democrat nominee” (via USA Today).

The Washington Post reports that “President Trump and his top aides signaled Thursday that they would reject any changes to the presidential debate format,” which only leave one option: a boycott.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said, “[Trump] wants to debate. He plans on being at the debate. But he wants the rules to be fair and wants a fair exchange and doesn’t want rules that cover for a certain candidate’s inability to perform well.” She also added that “the only way there’s a fair debate is a change in the moderator and a change in the Democrat nominee” (via USA Today).