First looks at the highly anticipated presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have revealed that Harris will be using a customized podium aimed at making her appear the same height as her Republican rival.
Images of the two podiums show that Trump’s is significantly larger, while the vice president will be using a much smaller podium. The idea, which was insisted upon by the Harris Campaign, is designed to make the two candidates appear to be the same height on television split screens.
Former President Trump stands at 6’3′ while Harris is significantly shorter in stature at 5’4′.
One Trump Campaign officially reportedly joked that the vice president’s mini podium resembles “the kids’ table at Thanksgiving.”
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NEW: Kamala Harris will have a miniature podium during tonight’s debate on ABC against Donald Trump.
The move was requested by Harris’ team who is afraid she will look tiny compared to Trump.
The smaller podium will make it so the candidates look the same size during the… pic.twitter.com/f1BOxoVPeC
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 10, 2024
Tuesday night’s ABC News-hosted debate could very well be the only debate between Trump and Harris before Election Day, and it will almost certainly be the only encounter before early voting begins in a number of crucial states.
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While Harris told reporters that she will be open to additional debates in a rare encounter with the press, the campaign has yet to provide any details on when a second debate would occur. Trump has agreed to three separate debates with Harris, including one early September event that was to be hosted by Fox News.
Harris opted to skip the debate, drawing criticism from the Trump Campaign after the former president agreed to an event hosted by a network that is highly critical of him in CNN.
Tuesday night’s debate is not without controversy given Harris’ longtime relationship with Disney executive Dana Walden, who is responsible for overseeing operations at ABC News.
Walden first met Harris in 1994, while their husbands, Matt Walden and Doug Emhoff, have known each other since the 1980’s. Harris has described the ABC News director and her husband as “extraordinary friends” in the past.
The Waldens have donated to Harris’ political campaigns for years, starting with her run for San Francisco District Attorney in 2003.
They have also hosted a number of fundraisers for Harris at their upscale Los Angeles home. “In many ways, Dana and Matt are responsible for my marriage,” Harris joked while speaking at a fundraiser held at the couple’s home in 2022. The vice president explained that the Waldens had set up a couple who in turn had set her up with Mr. Emhoff on a blind date.
