US President Donald Trump has refused to participate in the virtual presidential debate with rival Joe Biden calling it unacceptable. The Commission on Presidential Debates had planned the virtual debate as Trump has Covid-19.
US President Donald Trump has refused to participate in October 15 virtual presidential debate with his rival Joe Biden. (Photo: AP)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Donald Trump pulls out of virtual presidential debate with Joe Biden
- Trump calls virtual debate a waste of time and unacceptable to him
- Virtual presidential debate was planned after Trump got Covid-19
US President and Republican Party’s presidential election nominee Donald Trump has refused to do a virtual debate with his Democratic Party rival Joe Biden. The debate was scheduled for October 15, to be held virtually as Donald Trump has contracted coronavirus infection.
Donald Trump has said he will not participate in the presidential debate if it’s held virtually. He said in a Fox Business interview that that arrangement is “not acceptable to us.”
He accused the moderators of trying to shield his Democratic Party rival Joe Biden. Donald Trump’s refusal followed the announcement by the Commission on Presidential Debates that the second debate between Trump and Biden would take place virtually because of the president’s diagnosis of Covid-19.
The Commission on Presidential Debates cited a need “to protect the health and safety of all involved with the second presidential debate” for organising virtual debate. It said the candidates would “participate from separate remote locations” while the participants and moderator remain in Miami.
Donald Trump rejected the idea telling Fox Business in a telephonic interview: “No I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debateThat’s not what debating’s about.”
According to the White House, a dozen staffers are infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19. Besides President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, close aides Hope Hicks, Nick Luna, Stephen Miller and Kayleigh McEnany have tested positive for Covid-19. Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien also has Covid-19.
(Based on inputs from agencies)