Former President Donald Trump claims that the upcoming presidential debate will not allow for adjustments to the nominees’ height behind the podium.
Trump made the comment in a Saturday post on his proprietary social media platform Truth Social.
“No boxes or artificial lifts will be allowed to stand on [sic] during my upcoming debate with Comrade Kamala Harris,” Trump wrote. “We had this out previously with former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg when he was in a debate, and he was not allowed a “lift.”
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak about national security during a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina. (PETER ZAY/AFP via Getty Images)
“It would be a form of cheating, and the Democrats cheat enough,” the former president added. “‘You are who you are,’ it was determined!”
It is not immediately clear if Trump was relaying the outcome of discussions with ABC ahead of the debate or was speculating.
The post references Trump’s past feud with the former New York City mayor, who the former president taunted as “Mini Mike Bloomberg” during his 2020 Democratic nomination bid.
Former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg attends the 2024 Paley Honors at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. ((Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images))
Trump repeatedly claimed Bloomberg requested to stand on a box behind his podium during his Democratic primary debate — but this claim was never substantiated that the former mayor ever made such a request.
“The president is lying,” a spokesperson for Bloomberg’s 2020 campaign fired back at the time. “He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan.”
Harris clarified her own height during an interview with “Today” host Katie Couric earlier this year, correcting the interviewer when she claimed the vice president is 5’2″.
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to union workers during a campaign event at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“I am 5’4″ and a quarter — sometimes 5’4″ and a half,” Harris told Couric. “And with heels — which I always wear — I’m 5’7’ and a half, thank you very much.”
Trump’ own height has been variously reported as 6’2″ and 6’3″.
