Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign, claimed Tuesday that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden requested two breaks during Tuesday’s 90-minute debate and said he will not submit to a pre-debate inspection for electronics.
Joe Biden’s handlers several days ago agreed to a pre-debate inspection for electronic earpieces but today abruptly reversed themselves & declined. Biden asked for multiple breaks during the debate, which President Trump doesn’t need, so we have rejected that request.
Statement: pic.twitter.com/yIXd0TVWgi
— Tim Murtaugh – Download the Trump 2020 app today! (@TimMurtaugh) September 29, 2020
“Joe Biden’s handlers several days ago agreed to a pre-debate inspection for electronic earpieces but today abruptly reversed themselves & declined. Biden asked for multiple breaks during the debate, which President Trump doesn’t need, so we have rejected that request,” Murtaugh tweeted.
The Daily Caller reached out to the Trump campaign to confirm the allegations, but they did not respond before press time.
Politico reporter Christopher Cadelago reported that Biden Deputy Campaign Manager Kate Bedingfield refuted claims that the campaign asked for breaks, adding, “Of course he’s not wearing an earpiece.”
@KBeds says earpiece claims by Trump camp are “completely absurd. Of course he’s not wearing an earpiece, and we never asked for breaks,” she says.
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) September 29, 2020
NBC News’ Ben Collins reported that the allegations of Biden using an earpiece originated with memes and speculation on social media and on right-wing sites.
Reporter Peter Doocy, who has been reporting on Biden’s campaign since its launch, told Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” that President Donald Trump’s campaign had requested that both candidates be inspected prior to the debates for earpieces or electronic transmitters — a request the Biden campaign had denied. (RELATED: ‘Ask The Right Questions!’: Biden Snaps At Fox News Reporter Peter Doocy)
WATCH:
“We’re learning that so far the Trump campaign has been left hanging on a request to have a third party come in and inspect the ears of each candidate for an electronic device or some sort of a transmitter — that is something that the president has apparently consented to, it is something that the Biden team has not yet,” Doocy explained. “In the last few weeks the Biden campaign pushed for and was denied two breaks during the program, one every 30 minutes.”
“We also know, of course, the Trump campaign has been asking and been denied a performance enhancing drug test, as the Biden campaign now says they won’t provide a sample,” Doocy continued.
Fox News producer Pat Ward added a few details, tweeting, “The Trump campaign wants the Biden campaign to allow a third party to inspect the ears of the debaters for electronic devices or transmitters. The President has consented to this inspection, but Biden has not – so far.”
FOX News has learned new details about debate negotiations between the Biden and Trump campaigns ahead of tonight’s debate: (1/3)
— Pat Ward (@WardDPatrick) September 29, 2020
The Trump campaign wants the Biden campaign to allow a third party to inspect the ears of the debaters for electronic devices or transmitters. The President has consented to this inspection, but Biden has not – so far. (2/3)
— Pat Ward (@WardDPatrick) September 29, 2020
“The Biden campaign requested two breaks (one every thirty minutes) during tonight’s program, which was denied by their Trump counterparts, in negotiations over the last several weeks,” Ward added.
The Biden campaign requested two breaks (one every thirty minutes) during tonight’s program, which was denied by their Trump counterparts, in negotiations over the last several weeks. (3/3)
— Pat Ward (@WardDPatrick) September 29, 2020
Additional reporting indicated that Biden’s campaign did initially agree to a pre-debate inspection for electronic earpieces but later declined.
NEW: Joe Biden’s campaign agreed to an inspection for electronic ear pieces at tonight’s debate several days ago but are now declining, a source familiar tells me.
— Ebony Bowden (@ebonybowden) September 29, 2020
The debate is set to kick off in Cleveland at 9 p.m. ET, and moderator Chris Wallace (regular host of “Fox News Sunday”) will guide the candidates as they cover six topics over the course of 90 minutes.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the most recent information that the allegations were made by the Trump campaign, that NBC News has reported that the allegations originated as a meme on social media and that the Daily Caller reached out to the Trump campaign to confirm their accusations.