Presidential debates: Are the remaining Trump-Biden showdowns still happening?

Events were put in doubt when president refused to take part virtually

The fate of the final two presidential debates was thrown into jeopardy on Thursday, as Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s campaigns suggested different proposals, amid the president’s Covid-19 diagnosis.

At the time of writing, it was uncertain whether any debates between Mr Trump and his Democratic challenger will go ahead before 3 November’s election.

On Thursday morning, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced that the debate scheduled for 15 October would be held virtually, “to protect the health and safety of all involved”.

The commission said that concerns over the president’s health was behind the decision, after Mr Trump was hospitalised over the weekend, following a positive coronavirus test result two days after the first debate.

Despite uncertainty still surrounding his health, president Trump rejected the plan and said that he would only take part in an in-person debate, as he wanted to get back on the campaign trail after losing crucial time over the last week, according to the Associated Press.

During an interview with Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo after the commission’s announcement, the president called the idea of a virtual debate a “joke,” and said: “I’m not going to do a virtual debate.”

In return, Mr Biden suggested that they delay the debate until 22 October, which is the date of the scheduled third and final meeting of the pair.

On Thursday afternoon, the president said he would agree to that proposal if the debate took place in-person and if a third one was added a week later on 29 October. Mr Biden refused to meet that close to 3 November’s election.

However, he did not decline to debate on 22 October, and his communications director Kate Bedingfield said: “We look forward to participating in the final debate, scheduled for 22 October, which already is tied for the latest debate date in 40 years.”

“Donald Trump can show up, or he can decline again. That's his choice.” The Trump campaign was yet to respond to Ms Bedingfield’s comment.

After a day of confusion, ABC announced that on 15 October, when the second debate was scheduled to take place, it would air a town hall with Mr Biden, where he would answer questions from the public. It is scheduled to take place in Philadelphia.

In reaction, Mr Trump’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, said that the president would hold a rally next Thursday in place of the debate.

While boarding a flight to Arizona on Thursday afternoon to continue his campaign, Mr Biden said it would be “irresponsible” for him to comment on Mr Trump's decision.

“We don’t know what the president´s going to do,” he added. “He changes his mind every second.”

The debate commission, which sponsors televised debates in the US, has not yet weighed in on the proposals from either the president or Mr Biden.