Andrew Yang, the tech entrepreneur running for president, blamed his low speaking time at Thursday night’s debate on his microphone being off.
The 2020 hopeful spoke the least of any of the 10 candidates on stage, clocking in at under 3 minutes compared to more high-profile candidates who had more than 10 minutes of speaking time.
“There were also a few times, FYI, where I just started talking, being like, hey, I’d like to add something there and my mic was like not on,” he told supporters at a post-debate party. “I was talking and nothing was happening. And I was like, ‘Oh f—.’ So that happened a bit too.”
Yang post-debate party https://t.co/TRmCMyo7tl
— William LeGate (@williamlegate) June 28, 2019
NBC News denied Yang’s microphone had been turned off during the debate.
“At no point during the debate was any candidate’s microphone turned off or muted,” a spokesman for the network said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
Yang also apologized to supporters for not making more of an impact, explaining that the debate format was unnatural to him.
“I feel bad for those who tuned in to see and support me that I didn’t get more airtime. Will do better (my mic being off unless called on didn’t help) and glad to have another opportunity in July (and afterwards)!” Yang tweeted Friday morning.
Second, I feel bad for those who tuned in to see and support me that I didn’t get more airtime. Will do better (my mic being off unless called on didn’t help) and glad to have another opportunity in July (and afterwards)!
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) June 28, 2019
Fourth, I’m glad that the network switches and we get different moderators each time.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) June 28, 2019
Overall I’m pumped for what we accomplished and even more pumped to take what I’ve learned and get out there again soon. ????
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) June 28, 2019
