Trump pulls out of virtual debate with Biden
US President Donald Trump says he will not take part in the next presidential debate after organizers changed the event to a virtual format.
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced on Thursday that the second debate between Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, will be held virtually. The commission cited the health and safety of all those involved.
Following the first debate last week, Trump disclosed that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate, that’s not what debating is all about,” Trump said on a phone interview with Fox Business.
“You sit behind a computer and do a debate - it’s ridiculous and then they cut you off whenever they want,” added Trump.
The second debate was initially scheduled to be held in person next Thursday in Miami.
The commission is to host three debates between Trump and Biden and one vice presidential debate between the two nominees’ running mates.
Speaking to reporters earlier on Thursday, Biden said he would follow the recommendations of the debate commission, adding that he did not know what action he would take if Trump refused to take part.
“We don’t know what the president’s going to do. He changes his mind every second,” Biden added.
On Wednesday, Biden said the second debate should not be held if Trump is still infected with the coronavirus.
The former vice president, nonetheless, said he would base his participation in the Oct. 15 debate in Miami upon recommendations from medical experts.
In the middle of the night on Thursday, October 1, Trump announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus and a day after was admitted to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. However, he left the hospital on Monday and went back to the White House, where he is expected to continue his recovery.
Landing at the White House on Marine One, Trump removed his face mask and declared he feels great.
Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said, however, “You are not out of it until you have gone several days out and [are] doing well.”
Trump had repeatedly disagreed with Fauci on COVID-19, including social-distancing guidelines and masks wearing, calling the doctor as “a little bit of an alarmist.”
Trump is now under criticism for endangering his staffer in the White House, where 14 officials have so far been diagnosed with the viral infection.
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