The October 15 debate between US President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden was officially cancelled on Friday after Trump rejected a decision by the nonpartisan commission organizing it to change its format to a virtual event to guard against the spread of US-19.
Trump balked at holding the debate in that format, and Biden scheduled a town hall with ABC News for that night once Trump said he would not participate.
Trump’s team later countered with a call to hold the debates as scheduled once the president’s doctor said he would be cleared to hold public events beginning on Saturday.
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But the commission said it would not reverse its decision not to have the candidates on stage together, citing an abundance of caution with health concerns — particularly for the town-hall-style debate that was set to feature questions from average voters.
The third debate, scheduled for October 22 in Nashville, Tennessee, is still on.
