Trump vs. Harris: Donald Trump's latest demand ahead of the US presidential debate concerns Kamala Harris' height

With a view to the highly exciting debate on September 10 between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump has made an unusual demand. The former president, known for his unconventional tactics, insisted that Harris should not be allowed “any boxes or artificial lifting devices” during the debate, according to a report by Yahoo.

Trump's demand, which he announced on his social media platform Truth Social, sparked controversy and drew attention to the upcoming event.

Height controversy in focus

Trump's claim revolves around the use of size-enhancing tools, which he equates with “fraud.” His post states:

Trump referred to a similar situation from an earlier debate with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in which the use of an “elevator” was prohibited.

Trump, who is reportedly between 6'11″ and 6'3″, stated, “No boxes or artificial lifts are to be entered during my upcoming debate with Comrade Kamala Harris.” He added, “And the Democrats cheat enough. 'You are who you are,' that's what's been decided!” This focus on height is reminiscent of Trump's past debates, particularly in 2016, when he towered over Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Trump's physical presence during that debate was widely noted, and his habit of lurking behind Clinton as she spoke became a point of parody on shows such as Saturday Night Liveas mentioned in Yahoo's report.

Harris' request

Kamala Harris' campaign has also raised concerns about the debate rules. Harris, who is 5'4″, raised concerns about ABC News' decision to mute candidates' microphones when it is not their turn to speak.

In a letter to the network, her campaign argued that the format would “disadvantage” Harris, a former prosecutor known for her pointed questions. The campaign suggested that the muted microphones would protect Trump from direct exchanges, a key element of the debate.

A source familiar with the debate preparations told CNN that ABC may consider turning on the microphones at certain moments so the audience can hear the candidates' reactions, which would add another layer of complexity to the debate format, according to the Yahoo report.

Details of the debate and broadcast information

The debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 10, at 9:00 p.m. local time at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The event will be broadcast live by ABC News, and for ongoing reasons there will be no audience in the hall.

The debate, moderated by ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis, will last 90 minutes with two commercial breaks. The issue of muted microphones has been particularly contentious, with both sides accusing each other of cowardice. ABC has made it clear that each candidate's microphone will only be active during their allotted speaking time to keep interruptions to a minimum.

Frequently asked questions:

When will the 2024 US elections take place?

The US elections will take place on November 5th this year.

When will the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris take place?

The first duel between Trump and Harris will take place on September 10 at 9 p.m. local time.