Second presidential debate now cancelled after Trump refused to take part

The Commission on Presidential Debates has cancelled plans for a debate on 15 October following Donald Trump’s refusal to join a virtual event, according to reports.

The organisation changed the format for the second debate from an in-person event, traditionally held as a town hall answering questions from voters, to a virtual one, after the president was hospitalised with the coronavirus and more than a dozen people from his inner circle tested positive for Covid-19 within the last week.

But the president and his campaign balked at the idea and called instead to postpone the two remaining debates by a week.

The president will resume in-person campaigning on Saturday with an outdoors event at the White House and a rally in Florida on Monday. He was hospitalised last Friday and returned to the White House on Monday.

Following the announcement of a virtual event, the candidates’ campaigns “made a series of statements concerning their respective positions regarding their willingness to participate,” according to a statement from the commission.

“It is now apparent there will be no debate on 15 October, and the CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate” scheduled to be held on 22 October, the statement said.