After President Trump’s return, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced the second presidential debate’s date would be conducted on October 15, virtually. Trump pushes to return to everyday living and moved to the Oval Office on Wednesday despite being in the virus’s active phase.
Last Thursday, President Trump said that he would not participate in a virtual debate against Democratic nominee Joe Biden. During an interview with Fox Business channel, he also said that he would not waste his time on a virtual event. Moreover, his campaign will hold a rally.
The commission’s decision was made six days after President Trump announced that he and the First Lady Melania Trump had contracted the virus. After the announcement, more than a dozen White House officials have tested positive for COVID-19. Accordingly, to protect all involved’s health and safety, the commission decided to do town-hall format, but the two candidates would participate from separate remote locations.
The idea of separated deliberation is not new. In 1960, when the famous third debate happened between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, the candidates participated in a separate room in New York City. However, President Trump and his supporters claimed that the CPD made the decision independently and for Biden’s favor.
The Biden and Trump campaigns handed out several debates setting proposals for the next scheduled presidential debate. Biden’s movement proposes the third and final debate that has been scheduled on October 22, to be held as a town-hall debate rather than doing “the two men and a moderator” set up.
The Trump campaign agreed to do a town-hall setup for the next debates and demanded to move the date of the third and final debate on October 29. Trump’s campaign also cited a memo arguing that there’s no medical justification why the Commission on Presidential Debates should change the second presidential debate to a virtual setting.
However, Conley, the physician of President Trump, refuses to disclose key health details, such as Trump’s vital signs, updated tests, and if he is still taking potent steroids. Nonetheless, Biden’s movement opposed the suggestion of expanding another debate day. And, considering President Trump is the one who refused to attend the second presidential debate virtually under the rules set by the CPD.
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