ABC Debate 2024: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s campaign teams raise expectations ahead of presidential debate

CHICAGO– Vice President Kamala Harris said in an interview aired Monday that she expects former President Donald Trump to lie during the presidential debate on ABC News on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Trump campaign and its surrogates continued to suggest on Monday that the former president’s strategy at the debate will be to link Harris to her alleged policy failures and “disasters” as head of the Biden-Harris administration.

MORE: Harris-Trump ABC News presidential debate: How to watch and what you should know

With time running out before the two face off for the debate, both candidates are working to build anticipation at what is expected to be a pivotal moment for both campaigns as they look to appeal to voters ahead of what is expected to be a close November contest.

In a radio interview with morning host Rickey Smiley, Harris said, “We should be prepared that it is not a burden for him to tell the truth.”

“And we should be prepared that he will probably tell a lot of untruths,” she said in the interview, which was recorded Wednesday while Harris was at a rally in New Hampshire.

“I think he’s going to lie,” she said.

MORE: What the polls say ahead of the presidential debate between Harris and Trump

During a press conference hosted by the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee on Monday afternoon, Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Harris would “finally be forced to defend her record” on issues such as crime and the border.

Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, claimed that Harris is the one running the White House – not President Joe Biden – and that other major events such as the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, or the wildfires on Maui, Hawaii, should be blamed on her: “Every single one of these disasters is Kamala Harris’s responsibility.”

When later asked what tone Trump would use toward Harris, Miller said Trump would “be himself.”

The ABC News debate, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 9 p.m. ET. A primetime special before the debate will air at 8 p.m. ET. It will air on ABC and stream on ABC News Live, that network, Disney+ and Hulu. Viewers can also stream the debate on the ABC app on a smartphone or tablet, on ABC.com and connected devices.

While Harris’ strategy so far has been to show presence and redefine herself for voters, she now wants to use the debate primarily to attack Trump’s policies and get on his nerves.

Harris told Smiley she intended(S) to point out that Trump “tends to fight for himself, not for the American people.”

The Harris campaign has also pointed out that this is new territory for Harris, as it is her first-ever presidential debate, while it will be Trump’s seventh. It is the first time the two have faced off against each other.

Harris remains in Pittsburgh and is participating in mock debates on a fully lit stage set up at her hotel to create an invigorating atmosphere on Tuesday.

She also relies on many advisers who prepared Hillary Clinton for her presidency in 2016. These include Philippe Reines, who represents Trump and approaches his role like a method actor: According to one source, he plays Trump with a wig.

MORE: Harris and Trump’s positions on key issues

The Trump team is aware of Harris’ extensive debate preparation. Former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who is advising Trump on the debate, said on Monday on “Fox and Friends” that Harris should not be underestimated given her “solid” debate preparation.

“She’s taking this debate seriously,” Gabbard said. “She’s going to come with memorized texts and be ready to deliver them in what I think is a very powerful way.”

Gabbard said Trump did not have to prepare like Harris and instead prepared in unconventional ways, including speaking to the American people in interviews and town hall meetings.

Gabbard added that Harris’ record speaks for itself and that Trump is “very focused on the issues.” He will emphasize her role as sitting vice president at the helm of the current administration.

But sources say the former president is preparing more than he is letting on. Trump is holding informal policy meetings with a small team of advisers, including Gabbard and Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.

According to the sources, Gaetz peppered Trump with questions about some of the more difficult issues, such as his legal troubles.

Watch the latest presidential debate stories and videos from ABC News Here.

ABC News’ Emily Chang, Soo Rin Kim, Kelsey Walsh and Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report.