Covid-positive Trump says ‘no’ to virtual debate
Trump tested positive for Covid last week and spent three days in the hospital before returning to the White House on Monday evening.
US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a rally at Toledo Express Airport in Swanton, Ohio on September 21, 2020. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP)
President Donald Trump, who is still being treated for Covid-19, said Thursday he will refuse to take part in the presidential debate next week after it was switched to a virtual format.
“I’m not going to do a virtual debate,” he told Fox Business News, saying this was “not acceptable to us.”
He accused the bipartisan debate commission of trying to “protect” his opponent Joe Biden.
The Commission on Presidential Debates said earlier it was making the change to a virtual format so as to “protect the health and safety of all involved.”
It said the debate would have a town hall forum with the candidates in remote locations.
Trump returns to work
The president returned to work in the Oval Office Wednesday, six days after testing Covid-19 positive, the White House said.
Trump spokesman Brian Morgenstern said the president was being briefed on economic stimulus negotiations and the progress of Hurricane Delta towards the US Gulf Coast.
The behavior of the president — who was hospitalized on Friday with Covid-19 and discharged on Monday — is under scrutiny as the number of positive cases continues to rise among people working at the White House.
His exit from the hospital, like much of his handling of the pandemic that has killed over 210,000 people in the US, sparked controversy.
Just after stepping off a helicopter at the White House, he climbed the stairs of his residence and pulled off his face mask.
“Don’t let it dominate you. Don’t be afraid of it,” he urged Americans in his homecoming speech, referring to the virus.
By Wednesday, his doctors reported the president had been free of Covid-19 symptoms for 24 hours and has not had a fever in four days.
“The president this morning says ‘I feel great,’” doctor Sean Conley said in a brief update.
Trump has vowed to return to campaigning shortly and to participate in the second presidential debate against opponent Joe Biden in Miami on October 15.
The president is confronted by dire polling numbers ahead of the November 3 election, which comes as the economy struggles to recover from Covid shutdowns that have left countless families and businesses struggling.
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