WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s suddenly up in air when the next presidential debate, or maybe debates, may take place. President Donald Trump says he will skip next week’s debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden if it’s virtual instead of face to face. Biden’s team countered by saying the town hall event should instead be moved back a week. By Thursday afternoon, it was unclear when or how the next debates would proceed, or whether voters would even get to see the two men running for the White House on the same stage again before Election Day. The back-and-forth started when debate organizers announced next week’s event would be virtual out of health concerns after Trump got COVID-19, without consulting with the campaigns before the announcement.

Previously

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he will skip next week’s debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden if it’s virtual. Debate organizers announced Thursday that the debate would be virtual out of health concerns. Some staffers associated with producing the debate raised safety concerns after Trump tested positive for the coronavirus following his first faceoff with Biden last week. The Commission on Presidential Debates decided the candidates will “participate from separate remote locations.” But Trump said he’s “not going to do a virtual debate.” Biden’s campaign insisted its candidate was ready to move forward, but the event is now in serious doubt.

Previously

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he won’t participate in next week’s debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden if it’s virtual. Debate organizers announced Thursday that the debate would be virtual because of Trump’s diagnosis of COVID-19. The Commission on Presidential Debates made the announcement a week before Trump and Biden were scheduled to face off in Miami. It said the candidates will “participate from separate remote locations,” while the participants and moderator remain in Miami. But Trump told Fox News that he’s “not going to do a virtual debate.” He was diagnosed with the coronavirus a week ago and said he looked forward to debating Biden on stage in Miami.