Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will meet for their first debate on Tuesday at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center in a showdown that could define the rest of the presidential campaign.
The debate, which begins at 9 p.m. ET, is hosted by ABC News. There will be no live audience and no opening statements, according to rules the network released last week. The two candidates will have less than two minutes to make closing statements.
Harris and Trump will not be able to ask each other questions. Only the moderators – ABC’s David Muir and Linsey Davis – are allowed to ask questions.
The debate will last 90 minutes and include two commercial breaks. Candidates will have two minutes to answer questions, two minutes for rebuttals and another minute for follow-ups and clarifications. Like CBS News previously reportedHarris’ campaign agreed to mute the microphones when a candidate is not speaking.
A coin flip determined podium placement and the order of closing statements. Trump won the virtual coin toss, ABC News said, and he decided to offer the final closing statement. Harris chose the position right, or stage left.
The rules also state that candidates will stand behind their lecterns for the “duration” of the debate, a rule that may remind viewers of a 2016 debate between Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, when Trump left his seat to linger near Clinton, a move that some was seen as a scare tactic.
Candidates may not take prescribed notes or props on stage, and they will not be given topics or questions in advance.
ABC allows other television networks to simulcast the debate. CBS News will broadcast the proceedings on the CBS broadcast network and the streaming network CBS News 24/7.
The debate will be the first time Harris and Trump meet face to face.
contributed to this report.