BREAKING NEWS: Second debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden is officially OFF after president refused virtual head-to-head in wake of COVID hospitalization

The Commission on Presidential Debates has officially called off the October 15 debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday afternoon that the second face-off between the two candidates was cancelled, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The news broke minutes after the Trump campaign had sent out a note to supporters asking them to 'make a statement SO LOUD' that the debate should be held in-person on October 15 as scheduled, as 'President Trump’s doctor says he will be ready to go by SATURDAY.'

The Commission on Presidential Debates called off the second debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden after Trump caught the coronavirus and then refused to participate virtually

Joe Biden's campaign pushed back on the Trump's campaign idea to change the dates of the debate in order for them to be held in-person. Biden has now agreed to participate in a town hall event Thursday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

On Thursday, the president refused to participate in a virtual debate with Biden, a change made in response to his COVID-19 diagnosis.

Questions remain whether he already was infected when he debated Biden onstage in Cleveland on September 29, two days before he tested positive for the coronavirus.

The White House has refused to say when the president last tested negative for COVID-19, but participants were supposed to have been tested in the 72 hours leading up to the debate.

Throughout Thursday, the Trump and Biden campaigns put out statements about the Miami debate, with the president's campaign urging the Commission on Presidential Debates to reschedule them for October 22 and October 29 instead.

The election is on November 3.

'Donald Trump doesn't make the debate schedule; the Debate Commission does. We accepted the three dates - Sept. 29, Oct. 15, and Oct. 22 - in June,' Biden's campaign said in response.

'Trump's erratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar, and pick new dates of his choosing,' the Biden campaign continued.

Biden's campaign agreed to participate in the final October 22 debate, which is scheduled to take place in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Democratic nominee has already agreed to take part in a town hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 15.

The Miami debate was supposed to have a town hall format.

Trump's doctor sent out a note Thursday night, saying, 'I fully anticipate the president's safe return to public engagements' on Saturday.

The president plans to host an event at the White House Saturday, speaking to a South Lawn audience from the balcony.

The Trump campaign also announced he would hold a rally Monday in Sanford, Florida.

Comments

EXCLUSIVE: From a $US13million mansion to a caravan: How the Australian wife of Il Divo singer has been 'forced' to live in a dodgy trailer park after a wildfire burned down their house during a bitter divorce battle

'Forced' into a 'mobile home park': Renee Izambard (nee Murphy) with her estranged husband, the suave Il Divo opera singer Sebastien Izambard An Il Divo opera singer's estranged Australian wife claims she was 'forced' to live in a caravan park after their $US12.95million Malibu mansion burned down in a wildfire days just after she filed for divorce. Details of one-time Sydney Sony Music executive Renee Izambard's new life after her messy split with French tenor Sebastien Izambard were laid bare in a lawsuit filed with a Californian court this week. Ms Izambard (nee Murphy) is suing insurer State Farm, her estranged husband, an insurance agent and up to 20 others, over an allegedly 'inadequate' policy which covered the couple's destroyed former Malibu home. Their five bedroom residence - described as a 'no expense spared ... oasis' - and its two guest houses went up in flames on November 8, 2018 during California's devastating Wo...

The HS2 money pit: Ministers are told first stage of high-speed rail line may cost another £800m... six months after a budget increase saw total costs soar by £20.6bn to £43billion

Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. It comes just six months after a budget increase saw total predicted costs for the first stage of the high-speed line soar by £20.6billion to £43billion. In a written statement to Parliament, HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said half of this figure is due to preparation of the route for construction involving 'more significant challenges than anticipated'. This includes the need to remove more asbestos than expected. Another 'significant cost pressure' worth £400 million has also been identified during the development of designs for Euston station. Mr Stephenson warned that further investigation is being carried out which 'could identify further pressure'. Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. Pictured: HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson The HS2 route would initially link London and...

EXCLUSIVE: Disgraced ex-congresswoman Katie Hill quietly settles divorce from 'abusive' husband after blaming him for exposing their 'throuple' sexual relationship with a young female campaign staffer

Disgraced Democratic Congresswoman Katie Hill has quietly settled her divorce from husband Kenny Heslep after blaming him for exposing a ‘throuple’ sexual relationship they were having with a young female campaign staffer, DailyMail.com can reveal. Hill, 33, resigned from Congress last year after the publication of shocking nude photos of the politician cavorting with junior staffer Morgan Desjardins, who was 22 at the time, and an ethics probe was launched into her alleged affair with another aide. The freshman Democrat from California immediately accused her 'abusive' husband Heslep, 36, of trying to humiliate her and leaking the snaps to ruin her political career. But speaking to DailyMail.com about the divorce settlement, Heslep's lawyer said the former congresswoman's claims were 'all smoke and mirrors.' Disgraced Democratic Congresswoman Katie Hill has quietly settled her divorce from husband Kenny Heslep after blaming him for exposing a ‘throuple’ sexual ...

Newsif Blog

Search This Blog