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Image posted, Reuters
The first debate was a disappointment for many
US President Donald Trump has refused to participate in a remote televised debate with his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.
Earlier, the commission in charge of organizing the debate, scheduled in Miami for October 15, announced that it would take place remotely.
The decision was made in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s infection with the Covid-19 disease last week. The president is currently showing no symptoms, but several White House employees have recently been infected with the coronavirus, which causes the disease.
Trump said the committee’s decision was aimed at “protecting” his rival, Joe Biden, whose campaign has said his candidate will participate in the debate, and that he “hopes to speak to the American people directly.”
Trump said in a statement to Fox Business: “I will not waste my time in a personal discussion. Sitting behind a computer, this is ridiculous. They cut your words … I will not participate in a virtual debate.”
His campaign said he would participate in a public rally rather than a debate.
The first debate was reduced to insults and boycotts, and the US media described it as “anarchic” and “ugly.”
The debate between Representatives Mike Pence and Kamala Harris was more balanced.
The debate between Trump and Biden was to take place at an art center in Miami, with an audience asking questions of the candidates.
However, the committee said that the two candidates will participate in the debate from two separate locations, while the debate director and audience will be in Miami.
The committee justified its decision by taking care of “the health and safety of all participants.”
The debate will be moderated by C-SPAN policy editor Steve Skley, whom Trump described Thursday as the furthest of his supporters.
And Trump, in an earlier statement, expressed his desire for a second debate with Biden on one platform, saying: “It will be a wonderful opportunity.”
As for Biden, he said he was ready to take on Trump head-on, provided experts get permission to do so.
Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stephen, who had previously been infected with the Coronavirus, said in a statement that the committee’s decision to “rush to defend Joe Biden” is “pathetic,” adding that Trump may post “various declarations of nullity (of the virus) “until the date of the debate.
Regarding Biden’s campaign communications director, he said: “The vice president is excited to speak directly to Americans and compare his project to bring Americans together under the leadership of Trump who failed to deal with the Corona virus and threw the strong economy that inherited the worst recession since the Great Depression. ”
