Final Trump- Biden debate will feature ‘ mute’ button

Move to avoid repeat of chaotic first clash

The final debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden will feature a mute button to allow each candidate to speak uninterrupted, organisers said looking to avoid the disruptions that marred the first matchup.

Objections

The Trump campaign voiced objections to the change — made after the president repeatedly talked over both Biden and the moderator at lastmonth’s debate in violation of its agreed- upon rules — but said the Republican would still take part in the Thursday night event, one of his last chances to reach a large prime- time audience before voting ends on November 3.

The Presidential Commission on Debates said each candidate’s microphone at the debate in Nashville, Tennessee, would be silenced to allowthe other to make two minutes of opening remarks at the beginning of each 15- minute segment of the debate. Both microphones will be turned on to allow a backandforth after that time.

“President Trump is committed to debating Joe Biden regardless of lastminute rule changes from the biased commission in their latest attempt to provide advantage to their favoured candidate,” campaign manager Bill Stepien said.

The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

More than 30 million Americans have already cast their ballots, limiting Trump’s chances of reframing a contest that national and state opinion polls show him trailing.