Trump Demands Two Additional Debates After Rejecting ‘Virtual’ Format

presidential debates virtual

After the Commission on Presidential Debates tried to make the second debate virtual, President Trump’s campaign insisted that there are two more debates, both in-person.

The campaign proposed that the final debate be pushed back to October 29th to accommodate their in-person requirement.

Commission Announces Virtual Format After Trump’s COVID Diagnosis

President Trump faced off against former Vice President Biden in the first presidential debate last month, with Vice President Pence and Senator Harris following suit in the vice presidential debate on Wednesday night.

However, further debates between the President and Biden were put in jeopardy, following President Trump’s positive COVID diagnosis.

The President spent a few days in Walter Reed Medical Facility, but returned to the White House on Monday night.

In a move apparently designed to minimize risk of infection and transmission of the coronavirus, the Commission on Presidential Debates said early Thursday that the next debate would be a town hall, but with the candidates in separate locations, in a virtual format.

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Trump: “Ridiculous” Way To Hold Debates

The President blasted the virtual presidential debates format, and said he would not participate, calling it a “ridiculous” way to hold an event.

“The commission changed the debate style and that’s not acceptable to us,” Trump said. “I beat him in the first debate, I beat him easily.”

Trump’s campaign echoed his statement.

“The American people should not be deprived of the chance to see the two candidates for president debate face to face two more times just because the Commission on Presidential Debates wants to protect Joe Biden,” Bill Stepien, President Trump’s campaign manager, said in a statement.

“It remains extremely suspect that the CPD announced the brand new virtual format at 7:30am ET today immediately after Vice President Mike Pence had just wiped the floor with Senator Kamala Harris,” Stepien added.

“Clearly the commission wanted to shift attention away from Pence’s complete victory.”

Speculation abounded about the potential advantages that a virtual format could provide Joe Biden.

“As President Trump said, a virtual debate is a non-starter and would clearly be a gift to Biden because he would be relying on his teleprompter from his basement bunker,” Stepien argued.

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Biden Campaign Takes Advantage – Set To Do Town Hall On October 15th

The Trump campaign countered, proposing that the second and third debates occur on October 22nd and October 29th.

The Trump team’s proposal is very interesting.

October 29th is less than a week before Election Day, November 3rd.

Trump could be counting on a strategy to stay very fresh in voters’ minds. However, by then, millions – maybe tens of millions – of Americans may have already cast their ballots.

Reuters reports that over four million ballots have already been cast. That number could be significantly higher by October 29th.

Either way, the kerfuffle over the virtual debate left an opening – and Biden’s team took advantage.

Instead of a debate, Biden’s team secured a “town hall” for himself on ABC.

The town hall will be held October 15th, the original date of the second debate, and hosted by George Stephanopoulos.

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