Donald Trump and Joe Biden's microphones will be cut when they do not have the floor, during their second debate scheduled for Thursday, September 22, in order to avoid the cacophony that reigned during the first televised duel between the two candidates for the presidency on September 29, announced Monday the American commission responsible for these debates.
Democratic candidate Joe Biden, like US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump, will have two minutes to answer questions from the debate moderator, and during this speaking time, the microphone of the one supposed to listen will be muted.
Once the two candidates have used these two minutes, an open discussion will then be possible, this time with both microphones open.
Read also: In the fury of the first debate, Joe Biden stands up to Donald Trump
"It is the wish of the commission that the candidates be respectful of their respective speaking time, which will advance the public debate for the benefit of the spectators"
, indicated the commission in a press release.
During their first debate, Donald Trump interrupted his Democratic rival 71 times, the latter having interrupted him only 22 times, according to the Axios news site.
So much so that the former vice-president of Barack Obama had let out a thunderous
"But are you going to shut up, man ?!"
, which should go down in history.
"Horror film"
,
"worst debate in history"
,
"fiasco"
,
"shitshow"
(brothel) ... Such were the words of the commentators to describe this cacophony from which no real debate of ideas arose. 'could have arisen.
President Trump is keen to debate Joe Biden, regardless of last-minute changes decided by a biased committee, in a last-ditch attempt to provide his favorite candidate with an advantage.
"
Bill Stepien, Donald Trump campaign manager
But Donald Trump's campaign manager Bill Stepien reacted strongly to this decision.
"President Trump is keen to debate Joe Biden, regardless of last minute changes decided by a biased committee, in a last-ditch attempt to provide an advantage to his favorite candidate
," he said in a statement.
According to Bill Stepien, President Trump intends to discuss the affairs of Hunter Biden, son of Joe Biden, as he now does regularly, two weeks before the election.
“If the media doesn't ask Joe Biden these questions, the president will, and there will be no escape for Biden,”
he said.
Read also: From a distance, Trump and Biden continue their confrontation and exacerbate their differences
The
New York Times
also told in its columns how the team of the Republican candidate tried to the end to influence the subjects discussed during this debate.
While the organizers have planned six themes (the Covid-19 pandemic, the family, the racial question, climate change, national security and "leadership"), the Republican camp pleaded for the main theme to be addressed in the evening foreign policy, no doubt wishing to highlight the recent successes of the American president in this area, such as the rapprochement between Israel and the Gulf monarchies, or the recent release of several American hostages.
The two candidates were due to debate again last Thursday, October 15, but the committee imposed a virtual debate after the president tested positive for the coronavirus, a format immediately rejected by Donald Trump.
The two men then held separate meetings broadcast on competing television channels.
The debate scheduled for Thursday will be the last between the two men before the election on November 3.