Donald Trump Refuses Virtual Debate With Joe Biden Despite COVID-19 Status
Image via Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com and Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com
President Donald Trump’s campaign has been going back-and-forth with the plans for the next presidential debate with Joe Biden.
The Commission of Presidential Debates has decided for the next debate to take place virtually on 15 October 2020.
Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien stated that there is “no medical reason” to shift the event on the digital platform. Stepien cited the White House physician Sean Conley’s memo that noted it would be safe for Trump to attend public events by Saturday after he tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
The commission said that it had called for a virtual program “to protect the health and safety of all involved,” and not directly in response to Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis.
On Thursday, Trump told Fox Business in a call that he wouldn’t participate in an online town hall. “I’m not going to do a virtual debate,” Trump said, as he described the format to be “a waste of time.”
On the other hand, Biden’s deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield announced that the presidential hopeful is prepared to accept the virtual debate, and if it doesn’t ensue, he will seek an appropriate setting to answer questions from voters directly.
The Biden campaign then booked a town hall with ABC News on 15 October 2020, after Trump refused the virtual debate for that day.
Trump continues to push for the next debate to happen onsite with both candidates present. Time will tell whether it will carry on with the commission’s virtual plan or not.
In the meantime, Frank Fahrenkopf, chairman of the organizing commission, confirmed the third and final debate will go in-person in Nashville on 22 October 2020.
This is the third statement today from Trump campaign on the second debate, and another new tack — Trump asking to debate in person Oct 15, citing WH doctor’s note pic.twitter.com/IBhu0wxzts
— Tom LoBianco (@tomlobianco) October 8, 2020
[via NPR, cover image via Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com and Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com]
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