Trump Rejects Virtual Debate With Biden

President Donald Trump vowed Thursday not to participate in next week's debate with Democrat nominee Joe Biden after organizers announced will take place virtually because of the president's diagnosis of COVID-19.

"The commission changed the debate style and that's not acceptable to us," Trump told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo shortly after the debate change was announced.

"I beat him in the first debate, I beat him easily," adding that he expected to "beat him in the second debate also."

"I'm not going to do a virtual debate," Trump added. "I'm not going to waste my time at a virtual debate." He rejected the idea that he would "sit at a computer" to conduct a debate, calling it "ridiculous."

Trump said debate organizers did not check with him before announcing Thursday that next week's debate would be held remotely. The idea is "not acceptable to us," he said, accusing moderators of trying to protect Democrat rival Joe Biden.

That cast serious doubts on whether the event will go forward, even as Biden's campaign promised that he would participate.

"Vice President Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people," deputy Biden campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement.

The announcement from the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates cited a need "to protect the health and safety of all involved with the second presidential debate." The candidates will "participate from separate remote locations" while the participants and moderator remain in Miami, it said.