Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden walked back his campaign’s promise to attend the next debate with President Trump as scheduled.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Biden said he’s “looking forward to being able to debate” the president but added that the two candidates would need to “follow very strict guidelines.”
“I think if he still has COVID, then we shouldn’t have a debate,” Biden said.
In an early Friday morning tweet, Trump announced he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus. Later, Biden spokeswoman Symone Sanders said the campaign was “hoping” Trump would be “medically able to participate” but that Biden “will be at that debate.”
Biden’s walkback on attending the next debate as scheduled leaves the future of the debate uncertain as questions continue to be raised over Trump’s present state of health following his coronavirus diagnosis. Earlier Tuesday, Trump said he was “looking forward” to the next debate as scheduled, adding he expects it “will be great.”
I am looking forward to the debate on the evening of Thursday, October 15th in Miami. It will be great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2020
On Monday, Trump was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after spending the weekend recovering from the virus. White House physician Dr. Sean Conley said in a Tuesday afternoon memo that the president “had a restful first night at home, and today he reports no symptoms.”
Conley added that Trump’s oxygen levels were “stable,” with an “ambulatory oxygen saturation level of 95-97%.”
