President Donald Trump will not participate in the next debate after it was announced that it would be held virtually. The debate was set to take place on October 15 in Miami, Florida.
Trump made the comments to Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo.
Trump said the commission changed the debate format and that it was not acceptable to him. “I’m not going to waste my time at virtual debate.”
The decision to debate virtually comes days after the president was diagnosed with COVID-19. Trump was treated at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland last week.
Trump’s doctor said that he has had no symptoms for more than 24 hours and has been fever-free for more than four days.
“They’re trying to protect Biden,” Trump said. “Everybody is.” He called sitting at a computer to debate “ridiculous.” The president said he would hold a rally instead.
Following the announcement by the Commission on Presidential Debates the Biden campaign this statement.
“Vice President Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump’s failed leadership on the coronavirus that has thrown the strong economy he inherited into the worst downturn since the Great Depression,” said Biden’s deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield.
