WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The second U.S. presidential debate on October 15 will be virtual, the Commission on Presidential Debates said on Thursday, with President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden participating in the townhall style event from remote locations.
The audience, who typically ask the candidates questions in the town-meeting format, and moderator Steve Scully will gather in one spot in Florida, Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, the commission said in a statement. The commission said the decision was made “to protect the health and safety of all involved.”
But now it appears the virtual presidential debate is a non-starter with President Trump.
Trump said on Fox Business this morning, “I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate.”
Biden’s campaign quickly agreed to the virtual approach. The issue of safety came up after Trump tested positive for the coronavirus last week.
Last Thursday Trump tested positive for COVID-19, raising concerns that during the first debate on the preceding Tuesday he had infected Biden and moderator Chris Wallace. Biden has tested negative.
(Reporting by Lisa Lambert and Steve Holland; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
