https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/520148-trump-says-he-will-not-participate-in-virtual-presidential-debate
https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/08/politics/second-presidential-debate-virtual/index.html

In the past hour, the presidential commission has declared it would only hold the second presidential debate next week virtually, not in person. This came after their announcement last week they would change the rules to be able to mute candidate's microphones.
Trump then responded and declared he will not attend the debate if its virtual.

This being Trump, there's a > 50% chance this will wind up with yet another change of mind and curveball in the next 24 hours, but that's where we stand now

trump is afraid of the mic muting, and using virtual as an excuse.

more pandering to his "this is just a flu" bloc.

one of which, my coworker who must have said "flu" 1,000 times this year in various downplaying phrases, died yesterday of Covid. refused an ambulance because he said he was getting better and about to kick it. died several hours later.

In person, Trump would just ignore his mic being muted and would talk loud enough to be picked up on Biden's mic and the cameras. They can't stop him from that, and the coverage would get everything he said even if its in replay only
Being virtual turns the forum moderator into an internet forum moderator, and we all know what that means

Thats a good point, cant say i disagree with anything here.

Trump should skip and hold a charity rally for covid

Trump so angry he can't give Biden COVID.

Wonderful news, my condolences to his family and i hope the apples fell very far from that tree

based

Honestly there is no reason why it can’t be done in person. Is the presidential debate director a physician or responding to physician advice? Put them 20 feet from each other and have them both wear masks. They both speak loud enough. We take care of covid patients everyday, inches away, and the patient doesn’t even wear a mask. Everything that fucking happens these days has to be politicized.

Trumps family wouldnt even wear masks to the first debate. They showed they don't care about safety and lost the trust of the people who run these things.

It could be done in person if Trumps side was rational and willing to follow basic safety