10/09/2020 3:32 PM
Clarín.com
World
Updated 10/09/2020 3:32 PM
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, who on Thursday rejected the possibility of participating in the second presidential debate with Joe Biden virtually, now suggested that he would agree to a new meeting but face to face with his Democratic rival
if they are delayed for another week the two
remaining
debates
before the presidential elections on November 3.
"The American people should not be deprived of the opportunity to see the two presidential candidates debate face-to-face two more times just because the Presidential Debate Committee wants to protect Joe Biden," campaign manager Bill Stepien said in a statement. .
"We agree that this should happen on October 22 and consequently the third debate should be delayed for one week to October 29," Stepien said.
On Thursday, the Committee on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced that it had decided to virtually hold the second face-to-face between Trump and Biden, originally scheduled for Thursday, October 15 in Miami "to protect the health and safety of all. those involved ", after the president was hospitalized last Friday with coronavirus.
Democratic candidate for the US elections, Joe Biden, maintains his campaign agenda, while Thursday's debate remains on hold.
Photo: REUTERS
But the head of the White House quickly rejected the proposal, saying it was "a waste of time."
"No, I am not going to waste my time in a virtual debate," Trump said on Fox Business Thursday morning.
"That's not what the debate is about. You sit behind a computer and do it ... and then they cut you when they want."
Biden, who was initially in favor of the idea, finally said that he would not come forward if Trump did not.
According to Trump's spokesman "the CPD and the media cannot hide Joe Biden forever; Americans deserve to hear directly from both presidential candidates on this date, October 22 and 29."
The first debate between the candidates for the presidency of the United States took place on September 29 and was chaotic.
Photo: EFE
The Biden campaign immediately rejected
Stepien's
proposal
.
"Donald Trump is not on the debate calendar; the Debate Committee does," Kate Bedingfield, Biden's campaign spokeswoman, said in a statement.
"We accept the three dates - September 29, October 15 and October 22 - in June."
According to Bedingfield, Trump chose to withdraw from the October 15 debate.
"
Trump's erratic behavior
does not allow him to rewrite the calendar and choose new dates of his choice," he added.
"We hope to participate in the final debate, scheduled for October 22. Donald Trump may appear or he may decline again. That is his choice," he remarked.
On Thursday, Biden reacted initially skeptically, telling reporters that Trump "changes his mind every second" and there is "no telling what he will do" in the end.
However, the Democratic candidate's campaign was quick to announce that the former vice president will also not participate in the October 15 debate due to Trump's refusal to accept the virtual format, and that he will instead "find an appropriate place to respond directly. to voter questions "that night.
The Miami debate was not going to be a classic face-to-face between the two, but it was expected that undecided voters - and not a moderator - would ask the two candidates the questions.
Source: ANSA and EFE
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