Joe Biden says second presidential debate should be shelved if Donald Trump remains positive for coronavirus
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says he and Donald Trump 'shouldn't have a debate' as long as the president remains positive for coronavirus.
Biden said Tuesday that he's 'looking forward to being able to debate him' but said 'we're going to have to follow very strict guidelines'.
Trump returned to the White House on Monday after three days of treatment for COVID-19 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Biden told reporters while boarding his plane back to Delaware in Hagerstown, Maryland: 'I think if he still has COVID, then we shouldn't have a debate.'
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden (Andrew Harnik/AP)
The next debate is scheduled for October 15, with a third debate due to take place on October 22.
Biden's campaign says he tested negative for COVID-19 earlier on Tuesday.
On Monday, Biden said he was still open to debating Trump next week.
'If the scientists say that it's safe, the distances are safe, then I think that's fine,' Biden told reporters. 'I'll do whatever the experts say is appropriate to do.'
The president first tested positive for the coronavirus on October 1 after his aide Hope Hicks received a positive result.
At 1am Friday, the White House announced the president and first lady had tested positive for the virus.
There is a chance that the president could be testing negative by October 15 the date of the next debate.
While speaking to reporters, Biden wouldn't comment on the president's health.
'I am reluctant to comment on anything on the president's health - what he's doing and not doing,' the former vice president said.
'I'll leave that to the docs to talk about it, but I'm not going to comment on any of his conduct or his health, I don't know enough to know.'
Then, when asked if he'd prefer the next debate to be virtual or if plexiglass should be used to separate the candidates, Biden said organizers should 'listen to the science'.
'I'm not an expert on it, but I think we should be very cautious, as I've thought all along and I'm going to continue listening to the scientists,' he said.