Presidential debate: Trump refuses to take part in virtual TV event

US President Donald Trump has refused to take part in a virtual TV debate with his Democratic rival Joe Biden.

Earlier the commission organising the 15 October debate in Miami said it would have to take place remotely.

It made the decision after Mr Trump was treated for Covid-19. He has no current symptoms but the White House is tackling a cluster of positive tests.

He said the move to virtual was to "protect" his rival. Biden said Trump "changed his mind every second".

The first presidential debate on 30 September had descended into insults and interruptions. The vice-presidential debate, held on Wednesday night between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, was a far more measured affair.

The US election will be held on 3 November. Latest opinion polls give Mr Biden a high single digit lead nationally, but the outcome is often decided in battleground states where the races can be much closer.

His comments during a phone-in interview with Fox Business Channel on Thursday touched on a number of key matters, including his health and the possibility of movement towards a stimulus package for the economy.

Trump said: "I'm not gonna waste my time on a personal debate. Sit behind a computer, ridiculous. They cut you off... I'm not doing a virtual debate."

He also described the moderator of the Miami debate - political editor of the cable and satellite television network C-SPAN, Steve Scully - as a "never Trumper".

A statement from Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, who had also previously tested positive for Covid, said the decision of the commission to "rush to Joe Biden's defence" was "pathetic" and Mr Trump would have posted "multiple negative tests" before the debate.

He said Trump would hold a rally instead.

On his health, Trump said: "I'm back because I'm a perfect physical specimen."

He said he had stopped taking most "therapeutics" but was still taking steroids and would be tested for Covid again "soon". bbc