Trump Campaign, Republican National Committee Oppose Debate Changes, Including Cutting Off Candidate Microphones

The Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign objected Thursday to proposed changes to the presidential debate structure to prevent a repeat of Tuesday's encounter, which featured the candidates talking over each other and hurling insults.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said on Fox News, the commission should not make any adjustments without the support of both campaigns. She also argued the debate rules should not be changed because both sides agreed in advance to the specific parameters.

McDaniel suggested the Commission on Presidential Debates was pursuing changes to assist Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

“I hope the Committee on Presidential Debates does not change the rules to once again protect Joe Biden from answering to the American people,” McDaniel said.

President Donald Trump interrupted the former vice president some 70 times during the first debate, prompting a potential rule change that would allow the moderator to mute a candidate's microphone for breaking the rules. Biden interrupted Trump fewer than two dozen times.

McDaniel indicated she would not support such the sggested change.

"I don't think you should be changing the rules that they have agreed to, and I do not think this commission has the right to just arbitrarily change rules without talking to both candidates and getting agreement and input from both sides,” McDaniel said when asked if she would support such a change.

“They came out hot, and they went after each other, and these are grown men and they’re going to be on the world stage and they can handle a debate,” McDaniel added.

The commission said in a statement Wednesday it would weigh structural changes to the debates following Tuesday’s chaotic performance.

“Last night’s debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues,” the commission said in a statement. “The CPD will be carefully considering the changes that it will adopt and will announce those measures shortly.”

While the commission is still debating how to implement the new rules, CBS News reported that the new directive is a done deal and will be enforced in the upcoming debates. The second debate is scheduled for Oct. 15 in Salt Lake City.

The Trump campaign also opposed the potential new rules, charging the new directive favored Biden.

“They’re only doing this because their guy got pummeled last night,” Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement. “President Trump was the dominant force and now Joe Biden is trying to work the refs. They shouldn’t be moving the goalposts and changing the rules in the middle of the game.”

Trump voiced his frustrations over Twitter and claimed victory over Biden in the first debate. However, it appears the president doesn't approve of the commission's proposal to alter the debate rules.