US Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump meet for their first debate this week. Here’s how to watch.
Maybe you’re a US citizen who’s in Australia and wants to make an informed vote in this year’s US Presidential election. Or, more likely, you are just a citizen of the world who wants to watch new-ish Democrat candidate Kamala Harris and the former guy, convicted felon Donald Trump, go head-to-head live in their Presidential debate this week.
The 90-minute debate is hosted by US network ABC News, with David Muir and Linsey Davis moderating the event, taking place at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Centre.
In Australia, you can watch the debate in its entirety this Wednesday September 11. Simulcast live from Philadelphia, the Presidential debate starts at 11:00am AEST, with coverage beginning shortly prior.
At the time of publication, this debate will be screened on ABC News (Australia), SBS, Seven, Channel 9 and 9Now and 10.
It will also stream on YouTube.
After Joe Biden’s disastrous performance in the last debate sensationally upended the election narrative, all eyes will be on Harris and Trump as they skirmish for the first time at this level.
The rules for the debate (which takes place without a live studio audience):
The debate will be 90 minutes with two commercial breaks.
The two seated moderators will be the only people asking questions.
A coin flip was held virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 3, to determine podium placement and order of closing statements; former President Donald Trump won the coin toss and chose to select the order of statements. The former president will offer the last closing statement, and Vice President Harris selected the right podium position on screen (stage left).
Candidates will be introduced by the moderators.
The candidates enter upon introduction from opposite sides of the stage; the incumbent party will be introduced first.
No opening statements; closing statements will be two minutes per candidate.
Candidates will stand behind podiums for the duration of the debate.
Props or prewritten notes are not allowed onstage.
No topics or questions will be shared in advance with campaigns or candidates.
Candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water.
Candidates will have two-minute answers to questions, two-minute rebuttals, and one extra minute for follow-ups, clarifications, or responses.
Candidates’ microphones will be live only for the candidate whose turn it is to speak and muted when the time belongs to another candidate.
Candidates will not be permitted to ask questions of each other.
Campaign staff may not interact with candidates during commercial breaks.
Moderators will seek to enforce timing agreements and ensure a civilized discussion.
There will be no audience in the room.
