Debate microphone rules didn't stop Harris and Trump from commenting

Shoulder shrugs, furrowed eyebrows, and muttered retorts.

Their microphones may be muted for anyone watching their debate live, but Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night snuck in their own comebacks.

The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates had agreed to rules ahead of their showdown, including controlled mics and no audiences. Still, the reports from a couple of journalists inside the debate studio in the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia revealed a glimpse into what viewers were missing on television.

Numerous times throughout the 90-minute debate both Trump and Harris audibly denied comments made by the other, accompanied by a variety of facial expressions.

More: Presidential debate fact check: Keeping an eye on claims from Trump, Harris

"That's not true, that's not true," Harris said, shaking her head in response to Trump claiming the U.S. does not make semiconductor chips.

The two joined in a heated exchange on reproductive rights where Trump claimed he was a leader on invitro-fertilization and that Harris supports abortion up until birth. "You have not," she said. "Come on."

"That's just a soundbite, they gave her to say that," Trump said in response to Harris saying "Trump doesn't have a plan for you."

The two began to talk over one another when Trump interjected, "I'm talking now, sound familiar?" referring to Harris' viral line from her 2020 debate with former Vice President Mike Pence. Off mic, Harris said "Don't lie."

Harris addressed Trump's past comments, saying a lost election would mean a "bloodbath" for America.

"I never said 'bloodbath', it was a different term and it was related to energy," he responded.

When Trump said "I have concepts of a plan, I'm not president right now," Harris audibly laughed.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Muted microphones didn't stop Harris and Trump from commenting