With the President Trump’s recent coronavirus diagnosis it was unclear whether or not he would be participating in the upcoming second presidential debate. But Trump was released from Walter Reed National Military Hospital late Monday evening and according to Tim Murtaugh the president plans on taking part in next week’s debate.
“The President intends to debate,” Murtaugh confirmed.
The Trump Communications Director made the announcement less than one hour after Trump left the hospital and returned to the White House.
The Biden campaign has already made it clear they will be traveling to Florida for the next debate.
Symone Sanders, a senior campaign adviser to Biden, said that the former vice president is “looking forward” to the Oct. 15 town hall-style debate he is hoping Trump will be well enough to attend.
“We are looking forward to the debate on Oct. 15 in Miami,” said Sanders during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”. “It’s a town hall and, as you know, Vice President Biden loves a good town hall.”
“And we are hoping President Trump can participate,”she added. “We’re hoping that he’s medically able to participate, and that is up to his doctors to clear him. But Joe Biden will be at that debate.”
Biden shared a stage with President Trump during the first presidential debate just one week ago but has tested negative for the virus. He will receive another COVID test on Sunday and will continue to do so regularly.
Both President Trump, 74, and Joe Biden, 77, are part of an age group that are more susceptible to suffering from severe complications from the virus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that eight out of 10 COVID-19 deaths in the United States have been adults 65 of age or older and over 200,000 deaths overall.
