The rules for Tuesday’s ABC News presidential debate stated that each candidate’s microphone would be muted when the other candidate was speaking, in an attempt to prevent them from interrupting each other.
However, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris frequently spoke with their microphones off.
Harris, in particular, strongly protested Trump’s statements, insisting that they be false.
A group of reporters for the vice president were allowed into the debate room to observe the moments when the candidates spoke, although their microphones were muted.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris listens to former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak during a presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate with Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris
This is what they reported:
22:11 – When moderator David Muir asked Trump a second time if he wanted Ukraine to win its war with Russia, and he did not say so, Harris, off camera, bit her lip and shook her head.
22:12 – After Harris said Trump would abandon Ukraine and that Putin would eat Trump for lunch, Trump said off-mic: ‘Excuse me, I have to respond to that.’
22:21 – Harris smiled when Muir asked Trump to explain his comments about her race.
22:27 – In an off-mic exchange, Trump said: “She has a plan to destroy our country.” Harris responded: “That’s not true.”
22:29 – Harris laughed audibly when Trump said he has a “concept of a plan” on health care.
22:34 – Harris whispered ‘not true’ when Trump said the US has lost manufacturing jobs in recent months.
21:25 — When Trump said he’s been a leader in advocating for IVF treatments, Harris dismissively whispered back: “You’re not. Come on.”
21:28 — When Trump said people don’t go to Harris’ rallies, off-camera, Harris threw her head back laughing.
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a presidential debate with Democratic presidential candidate and US Vice President Kamala Harris
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris listens to former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak
21:29 — When Trump said immigrants are eating cats in Springfield, Ohio, Harris, off-mic, started laughing and said, “What? This is unbelievable.”
21:34 — When Trump said crime rates are going down everywhere in the world except the United States, and that crime here is going up, Harris said off-mic: “That’s not true.”
21:35 – Trump gasped as Harris outlined her criminal charges and felony convictions.
21:39 – Trump said off-mic and off-camera, following the exchange about his accusations of impeachment against him: ‘She’s the one who used it as a weapon.’
21:42 — When Trump accused Harris of being against fracking for twelve years, she said off-mic: “That’s not true.” When he said she was in favor of defunding the police, she said again off-mic: “That’s not true.” He then told her she was speaking out. “Don’t lie,” she replied.
21:10 — When Harris said the former president doesn’t have a plan for her, Trump said off-mic: “That’s just a comment. That’s what they gave him to say.”
21:14 – When Trump said the US is barely making any chips anymore, Harris said off-mic: “That’s not true. That’s not true.”
9:16 p.m. – 9:17 p.m. — When Trump said Democrats want access to abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy, Harris said off-mic, separately: “Come on,” “no,” and “that’s not true.”