‘Changing the rules’: Donald Trump fumes at Kamala Harris

A head-to-head debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris could now be off after the Republican laid into his Democratic rival.

Donald Trump has raged at his rival Kamala Harris accusing her of “changing the rules” and trying to nix an upcoming debate between the two presidential contenders.

Mr Trump and Ms Harris had been due to go head to head on September 10 on US network ABC for a debate that had originally been organised for the Republican nominee and Democrat Joe Biden.

With Mr Biden dropping out of the race the Harris campaign had been keen to keep to the original debate schedule.

But Mr Trump’s team has said their Democratic counterparts now wanted to alter how the debate is organised which could cause the Republican to refuse to take part.

Bizarrely Mr Trump has suggested he is not actually opposed to the main change the Democrats are proposing – but he’s more concerned about the moving of the goalposts just weeks out from the debate.

Donald Trump has said he may pull out of the debate with Kamala Harris. (Photo by Rebecca Noble / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Under the terms of the CNN debate with Mr Biden, the microphones of each candidate were turned off when their rival was speaking.

Additionally, neither candidate was allowed notes nor was there a studio audience.

But the Harris campaign has said the microphones should now be turned on for the September 10 debate, in the hope Mr Trump begins interrupting and going off message.

The Democrats have also suggested allowing notes on the set.

“Our understanding is that Trump’s handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don’t think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own,” said Harris campaign spokesman Brian Fallon.

“The Vice President is ready to deal with Trump’s constant lies and interruptions in real time.

“Trump should stop hiding behind the mute button.”

The Harris campaign has proposed changing the rules of the upcoming ABC presidential debate. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

‘She’s not smart’

But on Monday, Mr Trump said: “The deal was we keep the same rules”.

“Now all of a sudden, they want to make a change, because she can’t answer questions”.

That comment was in reference to the fact Ms Harris has not done any sit down interviews with media outlets since she became the Democratic candidate.

“We agreed to the same rules, I don’t know, doesn’t matter to me, I’d rather have (microphones) probably on.

“But the agreement was that it would be the same as it was last time,” Mr Trump said.

H suggested the Democrats were attempting to get Mr Trump to refuse to take part so Ms Harris then didn’t have to be under scrutiny.

“They’re trying to get out of it because she doesn’t want to debate.

“She’s not a good debater, she’s not a smart person. She doesn’t want to debate.”

The Republican nominee also railed against the September debate host ABC.

Mr Trump has proposed a debate on Fox News.

On Sunday on social media he accused ABC of a “ridiculous and biased interview” of Republican Senator Tom Cotton.

“When I looked at the hostility of that, I said, ‘Why am I doing it? Let’s do it with another network.’ I want to do it,” Mr Trump said.

The CNN debate directly led to Joe Biden pulling out of the presidential race. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

Trump spokesman Jason Miller told Fox News said the Harris campaign wanted a seated debate with notes.

“Enough with the games. We accepted the ABC debate under that same terms as the CNN debate.

“We said no changes to the agreed upon rules.

“If Kamala Harris isn’t smart enough to repeat the messaging points her handlers want her to memorise, that’s their problem.

“This seems to be a pattern for the Harris campaign. They won’t allow Harris to do interviews, they won’t allow her to do press conferences, and now they want to give her a cheat-sheet for the debate. My guess is that they’re looking for a way to get out of any debate with President Trump.”

However, the Trump campaign has also floated the potential to change the debate rules including by introducing a studio audience.