Mr Trump and Mr Biden will take part in the town-hall style debate from separate locations
Credit: Brian Snyder/Reuters
Donald Trump has refused to participate in the second presidential debate after it was announced the event would be held virtually.
The president and Democratic challenger Joe Biden were told that the debate, scheduled for next Thursday, would be in separate locations for their safety, with the “town hall” format remaining, the Commission on Presidential Debates said on Thursday.
On Thursday morning Mr Trump said it was "ridiculous" and he would not participate.
Speaking to Fox Business, Mr Trump said "I’m not gonna do a virtual debate."
Mr Trump said that he does think he is "contagious at all" and that he is "well enough to hold campaign rallies."
"I heard that the commission changed the debate style. I’m not going to participate. It’s ridiculous."
"I heard a couple of minutes ago, like you did." Mr Trump said he was not going "to waste my time."
"They are trying to protect Biden — everybody is," he said.
“I’m not gonna do a virtual debate,” Trump said on Fox Business just now.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 8, 2020
The Commission said the new measures were put in place “to protect the health and safety of all involved with the second presidential debate.”
The moderator, Steve Scully, will still be at the event’s original location, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
The nonpartisan CPD made the announcement Thursday morning, a week before the two were scheduled to face on in Miami.
The candidates were to "participate from separate remote locations," while the participants and moderator remain in Miami, the commission said.
pic.twitter.com/g5lGbRG4aE
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2020
Mr Trump was diagnosed with the coronavirus a week ago and said he looked forward to debating Mr Biden on stage in Miami, saying, "It will be great!"
Mr Biden, for his part, said he and Mr Trump "shouldn’t have a debate" as long as the president remains Covid positive.
Mr Biden told reporters in Pennsylvania that he was "looking forward to being able to debate him" but said "we’re going to have to follow very strict guidelines."
NEW: Next week’s second presidential debate will be virtual. pic.twitter.com/GwEYPiBFgo
— Willie Geist (@WillieGeist) October 8, 2020
Mr Biden said he would like the debate to still be held in person, but only if it was safe to do so. "If the scientists say that it’s safe and the distances are safe, then I think that’s fine," said Mr Biden on Tuesday. "I’ll do whatever the experts say is the appropriate thing to do."
Mr Trump fell ill with the virus last Thursday, just 48 hours after debating Mr Biden in person for the first time in Cleveland.
While the two candidates remained a dozen feet apart during the debate, Mr Trump’s infection sparked health concerns for Mr Biden and sent him to undergo multiple Covid-19 tests before returning to the campaign trail.
Mr Trump was still contagious with the virus when he was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday but his doctors have not provided any detailed update on his status.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms ofCovid-19 can be contagious for as many as — and should isolate for at least — 10 days.
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