Trump REFUSES to take part in virtual presidential debate

Donald Trump has refused to take part in a virtual debate with Joe Biden after organisers announced the new format in the wake of the president's coronavirus diagnosis.

As Mr Trump continues to recover from the disease in isolation at the White House, the Commission on Presidential Debates said the decision had been taken "in order to protect the health and safety of all involved".

The commission said the candidates would "participate from separate remote locations" during the October 15 debate while the participants and moderator remain in Miami, Florida.

But Mr Trump has said he will not take part in the debate if it is held virtually.

In an interview with Fox Business on Thursday, the US president said the arrangement is "not acceptable to us". He also accused moderators of trying to protect Mr Biden.

Mr Trump was diagnosed with coronavirus a week ago and said he looked forward to debating Mr Biden on stage in Miami, saying: "It will be great!"

But Mr Biden said he and Mr Trump "shouldn’t have a debate" as long as the president remains Covid-19 positive.

Mr Biden told reporters in Pennsylvania that he was "looking forward to being able to debate him" but said "we’re going to have to follow very strict guidelines".

Mr Trump fell ill with the virus last Thursday, just 48 hours after debating Mr Biden in person for the first time in Cleveland.

While the two candidates remained a dozen feet apart during the debate, Mr Trump's infection sparked health concerns for Mr Biden and he underwent multiple Covid-19 tests before returning to the campaign trail.

Mr Trump was still contagious with the virus when he was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday but his doctors have not provided a detailed update on his condition.

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms of Covid-19 can be contagious for up to 10 days.

There was no immediate reaction from either campaign to the news of the virtual format, which came as the debate commission was already considering changes to the structure of the debate after a chaotic first meeting between the two candidates.

It is not the first debate in which the candidates are not in the same room.

In 1960, the third presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy was broadcast with the two candidates on opposite coasts.

This story is being updated.

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