Trump has COVID-19: What this means for the presidential debates
Will the candidates meet up for another fight?
The first of three planned debates between Joe Biden and Donald Trump was a spectacle. Now, with Trump having tested positive for COVID-19, will the other debates go on as planned?
The two remaining presidential debates before the Nov. 3 election may go on as planned even though, at present, President Donald Trump is receiving treatment for COVID-19. At least that's the rhetoric from the candidates for now.
Trump still intends to debate Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Oct. 15, his campaign told CBS News on Monday. The president tested positive for the coronavirus last week and spent the weekend at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. On Monday night, he returned to the White House, where he continues to be monitored by a team of doctors.
Biden said he's open to debating Trump next week as scheduled, so long as health experts say it's safe to do so.
"If the scientists say that it's safe and the distances are safe, then I think that's fine," Biden told reporters Monday before boarding his plane for a campaign stop in Florida. "I'll do whatever the experts say is the appropriate thing to do."
One big question has been whether Trump will be healthy enough to debate Biden. Over the weekend, the public was given conflicting reports about Trump's condition.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Saturday that some of Trump's vital signs had been "very concerning" the day before. Prior to Meadows' remarks, during a Saturday morning press conference at Walter Reed, Trump's doctors had painted a rosier picture.
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On Sunday, White House physician Sean Conley told reporters that Trump's blood oxygen level had dropped suddenly on two occasions and that the president was being given the steroid dexamethasone. A number of specialists say the steroid suggests Trump's condition is serious.
Trump left the hospital on Monday evening, however, and returned to the White House. He appeared on a balcony and also tweeted out a video in which he said he was better and downplayed the threat of the virus, which has killed nearly 210,000 Americans. "Don't let it dominate you," he said. "Don't be afraid of it."
It's still unclear if Trump's condition will change. Conley told reporters that the president "may not be entirely out of the woods yet" and that Trump's medical team will continue close monitoring at the White House. On Tuesday, Conley released a memo in which he reported that Trump had told doctors that morning that he wasn't experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19.
Since the president came down with the virus, his reelection campaign has either postponed his events or switched them to virtual offerings. So far, the Commission on Presidential Debates has't made a statement regarding the status of the next two presidential debates, which are scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami, Florida, and Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee. Also, there hasn't been any word on what precautions may be taken to ensure the safety of the candidates. The commission didn't respond to a request for comment.
Representatives of the Biden and Trump campaigns weren't available to comment for this article.
What we do know is that the one and only vice presidential debate, between Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris, is set to happen Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Commission on Presidential Debates has approved the use of plexiglass to create a barrier between the two candidates.
So, in keeping with the unpredictable and unprecedented year we've had, a lot could happen before the next presidential debate.
Here's a look at what Trump's condition could mean for the next two presidential debates.
They could be canceled
The timeline for when Trump became infected and when he first started showing symptoms is fuzzy. But he said the positive test result was returned on Thursday, and technically he should be in isolation for 14 days, according to guidelines from The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That would take us right to the day of the debate, and he could continue to test positive until then. Also, even though he's left the hospital and says he's better, specialists say there's a chance he could take a turn for the worse, and given his age and weight, he's still at risk of developing serious illness.
They could be postponed
If Trump were to experience complications or if health officials advising the campaigns suggest it's unsafe to debate on Oct. 15 or Oct. 22, the commission may postpone the events. But logistically that could be difficult, given how close we are to the Nov. 3 election. It would likely be hard to find new dates that would satisfy both campaigns. Still, if there wasn't time to reschedule both debates, perhaps one of them would still take place.
They could go virtual
If Trump's health takes a turn or if health officials don't feel it's safe enough to get the candidates togetehr in person, a virtual debate could get the go-ahead. It's doubtful that either campaign would agree to put its faith in a broadband connection and agree to such a debate format. The last thing either candidate wants is for voters to see his grimacing face frozen on the screen.
They could go on as planned
It's clear from the past few days that Trump wants to project an image of health and dominance over the coronavirus. So it's likely he'll push for the debates to go on as planned, regardless of whether health officials recommend it. The answer may come down to what the Biden campaign decides to do. If Trump continues to test positive, the Biden team could cancel or possibly postpone at least the first debate. If Trump tests negative and doesn't experience a relapse in the next week, both debates may go on as expected.
So stay tuned.
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