據CNN報道，當地時間10月19日，美國總統辯論委員會釋出了一項新規定，當兩名總統候選人的其中1名就六大辯論議題進行開場陳述時，其對手的麥克風将會被“靜音”。此舉可能激怒現任總統。
在公開讨論環節，兩名候選人的麥克風均會被打開，任何一名候選人如果打斷對方發言，那麼在接下來的辯論中就将被扣減時間。
面對這一新規，特朗普對媒體表示，他認為此項規定很不公平，但他仍然願意參加辯論。
據知情人士透露，“靜麥”的決定是委員會成員一緻同意的，并強調“這不是對規則的改變，而是促進兩黨派遵守規則。”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden will have their microphones muted during the final presidential debate this Thursday night, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced on Monday.
“I‘ll participate. I just think it’s very unfair,” said Trump, when asked by reporters about the new rule.
Each candidate will be given two minutes to answer an initial question in each of the first six segments of the debate. Per the rule, the opposing candidate’s microphone will be muted during these two minutes, and will only be unmuted after the speaker has delivered his answer.
According to CNN, a source close to the commission said the decision on muting the microphones was unanimously approved by the committee.
特朗普競選團隊負責主任蒂姆•墨菲指責組委會“進行規則修改将使總統辯論委員會擁有辯論的控制權，但該委員會明顯偏向拜登陣營。”
拜登團隊發言人杜克洛回應質疑稱，特朗普是害怕面對關于他在抗擊疫情不力等問題上的質疑，與往常一樣，他更關心辯論規則，而不是幫助一個正在陷入危機的國家。
However, Trump’s campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh told reporters that the decision from the commission is an “attempt to provide advantage to their favored candidate.”
Biden’s spokesman T.J. Ducklo responded to the Trump campaign’s complaint in the following manner: “The campaigns and the commission agreed months ago that the debate host would choose the topics. The Trump campaign is lying about that now because Donald Trump is afraid to face challenges about his treatment towards COVID-19.”
組委會為何要“靜麥”？
9月29日，在首場總統候選人辯論中，現任總統、共和黨總統候選人特朗普多次打斷民主黨總統候選人拜登的發言，拜登則要求特朗普閉嘴并保持安靜，這使得主持人需要調停二人的争吵并維持秩序。
美國脫口秀主播特雷弗•諾亞在自己的節目《每日秀》裡吐槽首場美國大選辯論，場面極度混亂。
他深深地為辯論會的裁判感到遺憾，并認為組委會應該邀請美國格鬥冠軍賽的裁判來主持辯論賽，好讓特朗普及時閉嘴。
screenshot from YouTube
9月30日，總統辯論委員會便在一份聲明中表示，為確定辯論的有序進行，将修改後續辯論的規則。
按照原定計劃，當地時間10月22日21時至22時30分，特朗普與拜登将在田納西州納什維爾舉行第三場總統候選人辯論。
The first presidential debate was held on September 29, with the president interrupting many more times than Joe Biden. Biden requested Trump to be quiet, which forced the debate moderator to maintain order.
Famous U.S. comedian Trevor Noah had pity on debate’s moderator and suggested the committee should invite a UFC referee to force Trump to shut up.
The final debate will be held on October 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.