It seemed improbable that Donald Trump would be able to make the second presidential debate next Thursday, but the president was vowing to go. His coronavirus diagnosis means he wouldd still be in the recommended quarantine period on October 15th. Knowing Trump would be going against CDC recommendations if he attended the debate, the Commission on Presidential Debates took action today, announcing that the debate will be virtual.
Biden’s campaign said he would have agreed to do the debate virtually. But shortly after the announcement, Trump did a phone interview with Fox News, where he lashed out against this change saying he would refuse to attend:
“You sit behind a computer and do a debate, it’s ridiculous… they cut you off whenever they want.”
Former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg was among those saying this decision was “a reflection of the weakness of the campaign.”
While Biden’s camp said he would appear regardless of whether or not Trump showed up, they also recommended delaying the town hall format of the debate until October 22nd.
It’s unclear whether the Trump campaign misinterpreted the Biden campaign’s request, but soon after they issued this statement. It says they agree the town hall format should take place on October 22nd, but they also say a third debate should take place on October 29th. This is not something the Biden campaign agreed on.