Trump "Skipping Debate on 15th"... US Presidential Debate in Chaos Over 'Virtual' Change (Summary)

Conflict Between Both Sides Over TV Debate Format Change
Trump Declares He Will Skip 2nd Debate... "Let's Postpone Entire Schedule by a Week"
Biden's Camp Responds, "Debate Date Is Set by Organizers"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min, Reporter Naju-seok] U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden are engaged in a tense standoff over changes to the format and date of their TV debates. As both sides clash, there are even concerns that the TV debates might not take place at all.

On the 8th (local time), complications began when the debate organizers announced that the second TV debate scheduled for the 15th would be changed to a virtual format.

Originally, the second presidential TV debate was planned as a town hall format, where the candidates would answer questions from a live audience on site. However, the Commission on Presidential Debates changed the format to one where the candidates would not be physically present, considering President Trump's COVID-19 infection. The organizers notified the campaigns of the format change without prior discussion and immediately made an official announcement.

President Trump, who provided the reason for the debate format change due to his COVID-19 infection, immediately pushed back. Right after the announcement of the format change, he declared his absence in a phone interview with Fox News, citing the change in election procedures. Trump said, "I think I’m in good enough shape to campaign tonight," and "I don’t think I’m contagious at all."

On the other hand, Biden’s camp promptly accepted the change in debate format. Biden told reporters, "I will follow the recommendation of the debate commission." He also proposed holding the third debate scheduled for the 22nd in the town hall format, similar to the second debate’s original plan.

Subsequently, Bill Stepien, Trump’s campaign manager, proposed rescheduling the debates. He said, "We should not deprive the American people of the opportunity to watch the debates," suggesting postponing the debates by a week each.

According to the schedule proposed by the Republicans, the second debate would be held on the 22nd, originally the date for the third debate, and the third debate would be moved from the 22nd to the 29th. This proposal was influenced by expectations that by then, President Trump would have recovered from COVID-19 and be able to participate in the debates in the usual manner without quarantine measures.

However, the Democrats opposed this. Kate Bedingfield, Deputy Campaign Manager for Biden, stated that the debate schedule is determined by the organizers, not President Trump, and pressured, "We agreed to three debate dates back in June, and Trump blew off the second debate today. Trump should just decide whether he will attend the third debate."

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