President Donald Trump has vowed not to participate in a virtual debate with Democrat Joe Biden after the debates commission proposed a new format in which the candidates would appear at remote locations.
Speaking with Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo, Trump said the proposed format, in which each candidate would appear via a live feed from separate remote locations, was unacceptable.
Trump said he was “not going to waste” his time doing a virtual debate, and dismissed the proposed arrangement for the October 15 faceoff.
“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate” — Trump, on with Maria Bartiromo, begins his first post-coronavirus interview by saying he’s pulling out of the second debate. (He sounds a little hoarse.) pic.twitter.com/R43JSszfll
The announcement of the proposed ‘town hall’ format pushed by the Commission on Presidential Debates came less than a week after Trump tested positive for Covid-19.
The US president denounced the change in format, while also claiming victory in the first debate, which was widely viewed as chaotic to the point of being described by mainstream media commentators as a “s**tshow.”
Trump said he was unwilling to “sit behind a computer and do a debate” and called the mere suggestion “ridiculous.” Earlier this month, the president warned the commission against changing the format of future debates.
Why would I allow the Debate Commission to change the rules for the second and third Debates when I easily won last time?
The Trump campaign said it would hold a rally instead of attending the next debate. Addressing his health in the TV interview, Trump said he does not believe he is contagious and that he is feeling “really good”. “I’m back because I’m a perfect physical specimen,” Trump told Bartiromo.
Meanwhile, Biden’s deputy campaign manager, Kate Bedingfield, appeared to accept the terms of the new debate format. “Vice President Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people,” she said.
Earlier this week, Biden said the pair “shouldn’t have a debate” if Trump is still infected with the virus, but said that he would base a decision on his participation on advice from medical experts.
The news came the morning after a lackluster vice presidential debate between Trump’s right-hand man Mike Pence and Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris.
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