US Election 2020: Donald Trump pulls out of virtual debate with Joe Biden, calls it ‘waste’ of time

[The Viper]

US Election 2020: Donald Trump pulls out of virtual debate with Joe Biden, calls it ‘waste’ of time

The second debate between US President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden will be held virtually, the Commission on Presidential Debates has announced.

The move to a virtual format comes as Mr Trump continues treatment for coronavirus at the White House.

His doctor says he has had no symptoms for more than 24 hours.

The second debate between the rival candidates is scheduled for next Thursday.

The upcoming face-off will be a town-hall style event "in which the candidates would participate from separate remote locations," the commission said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2020-54465139

 

[Robert]

Good, it will be easier to stop Trump interrupting.

 

[Technics 1210]

Biden running scared. So he should after the pistol-whipping Harris received night.

 

[Star_Coffee]

I am surprised Trump agreed to this.

 

[Technics 1210]

"I'm not going to waste my time': Trump says he won't do virtual debate against Biden"

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/08/trump-biden-virtual-second-debate-427810

Doesn't seem like Trump has agreed.

 

[Technics 1210]

Trump should refuse. Biden will cheat galore. His team will feed him answers in an attempt to conceal his frail mental state.

Biden must be exposed face to face.

 

[Markhor]

Trump has backed out of a remote debate. Probably beat advised given his poll numbers sank after the first debate where his ill-mannered display disgusted many voters.

 

[Firebat]

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

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

Earlier the commission deciding the 15 October Miami debate's format 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.

Mr Trump said the move to virtual was to "protect" his rival. Mr Biden's campaign said he would participate.

The Democrat's campaign said he "looks forward to speaking directly to the American people".

But speaking to Fox Business Channel on Thursday, Mr 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."

His campaign says he will hold a rally at the same time instead.

The first debate had descended into insults and interruptions. US media used words like "chaos" and "ugly" to describe it.

The vice-presidential debate, held on Wednesday night between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, was a far more measured affair.

The next 90-minute presidential event is due to be held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, with local residents in the audience posing questions to the candidates.

But the commission said candidates would have to take part "from separate remote locations". Participants and the moderator would be in Miami.

The commission said the decision had been made "to protect the health and safety of all involved".

The moderator is C-SPAN political editor Steve Scully. Mr Trump described him on Thursday as a "never Trumper".

Mr Trump had previously said he looked forward to debating Mr Biden on stage and, on Monday, Mr Biden said he would share a stage with Mr Trump as long as medical experts gave the go-ahead.

A statement on Thursday 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.

Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield said: "Vice-President Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump's failed leadership on the coronavirus that has thrown the strong economy he inherited into the worst downturn since the Great Depression."

https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54465139

 

[Firebat]

But speaking to Fox Business Channel on Thursday, Mr 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."

Poor Donald, so sad they won't let him shout and interrupt. Could have been forced into offering actual arguments and facts! But he's too patriotic and strong for that, good on you Donald for refusing.

 

[IMMY69]

Trump has backed out of a remote debate. Probably beat advised given his poll numbers sank after the first debate where his ill-mannered display disgusted many voters.

Trump will be devastated but should actually be thankful.
Anything like last debate would be a nail in his coffin.

I’m now actually beginning to believe that Biden has a shot of winning...

 

[GenericBrand]

Wouldn't be surprised if its to try masking his state of health.

 

[Star_Coffee]

Wouldn't be surprised if its to try masking his state of health.

Trump? No!, his bread and butter in a debate are shouting over his opponent and not let them complete the point. His base needs to see him acting like a teenager bully and he won't be able to do that in a virtual debate.

 

[Technics 1210]

If the DJIA hits 30000 a week before the election, it will be Trump's election to lose.

 

[Gayle_Force]

If the DJIA hits 30000 a week before the election, it will be Trump's election to lose.

It has always been Trump's election to lose. He has just been doing a very good job losing it.

 

[Savak]

Biden's health is a severe concern. He looked like a severely deteriorated individual who doesn't have much miles left. Apparently Ronald Reagan started showing symptoms of Alzheimers and Dementia in his final 2 years in office and that his VP George Bush Sr, his senior aides had to keep his health issues under check and assist him while making key decisions.

 

[Technics 1210]

It has always been Trump's election to lose. He has just been doing a very good job losing it.

Very true too.

However, the media hate him, the politicians hate him, and he is the most scrutnised human being on earth right now. It's not been easy for him.

 

[MenInG]

A debate about a debate!

==

As we reported earlier, a row has erupted between President Trump and his Democratic rival for the White House, Joe Biden, over the format of the second debate ahead of November's election.

Earlier, organisers announced that the presidential debate in Miami, Florida on 15 October would be held virtually, following Trump's Covid-19 diagnosis.

Trump has rejected the proposal, but the move has been met with enthusiasm by team Biden. This is what his campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said:

"Vice President Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump's failed leadership on the coronavirus that has thrown the strong economy he inherited into the worst downturn since the Great Depression."

Meanwhile, the head of the Commission on Presidential Debates has issued a statement in response to Trump’s refusal to take part.

Frank Fahrenkopf said it was "up to every candidate to decide whether they want to debate or not" casting doubt on the event.

"There is no law requiring any presidential candidate to debate. In fact, in 1980, Jimmy Carter, president of the United States, refused to participate in the first debate, but he did participate in the second debate."

 

[Gayle_Force]

Very true too.

However, the media hate him, the politicians hate him, and he is the most scrutnised human being on earth right now. It's not been easy for him.

Yea but he is not entirely blameless for the hate and scrutiny as a lot of it is due to his confrontational style.

I don't think people outside of his base ever agreed with his style of presidency but still supported him because they were generally supportive of his economic policies. However, any rational person would agree that Trump completely messed up the handling of COVID crisis and his ego and confrontational style only added salt to people's wounds.

 

[Technics 1210]

Yea but he is not entirely blameless for the hate and scrutiny as a lot of it is due to his confrontational style.

I don't think people outside of his base ever agreed with his style of presidency but still supported him because they were generally supportive of his economic policies. However, any rational person would agree that Trump completely messed up the handling of COVID crisis and his ego and confrontational style only added salt to people's wounds.

It's his confrontation style that makes him appealing and entertaining.

Trump followed WHO guidelines, just like UK leadership did - it's WHO who messed up.

 

[Gayle_Force]

It's his confrontation style that makes him appealing and entertaining.

Only to his base, most people would prefer leaders who are calm, collected, and capable of demonstrating empathy.

Trump followed WHO guidelines, just like UK leadership did - it's WHO who messed up.

No, he completely misread people's seriousness towards Covid and has been giving mixed messages from the very first day. His stance on basic things like masks and social distancing has been extremely confusing. He carelessly held rallies and events without enforcement of social distancing and masks. There are still questions on when Herman Cain contracted Covid and we all know what happened at the SCOTUS nomination event. He still decided to take a photo op while still contagious and putting his security team at risk and the first photo op of him when reaching white house was of him taking of the mask.

These antics do make him appealing to his base but are really unattractive for the undecided. There is a reason why Biden has a double digit lead in the polls without really even campaigning.

 

[MenInG]

Donald Trump's campaign has proposed pushing back the final two presidential debates with Joe Biden by one week.

Earlier, the US president said he would refuse to take part in a debate on 15 October that organisers were planning to do virtually in response to his coronavirus diagnosis.

In a statement, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien suggested that in-person debates should be held on 22 and 29 October instead.

He added: "As President Trump said, a virtual debate is a non-starter and would clearly be a gift to Biden because he would be relying on his teleprompter from his basement bunker.

"Voters should have the opportunity to directly question Biden's 47-year failed record of leadership."

The Commission on Presidential Debates, a non-partisan committee that has organised all presidential debates since 1988, had proposed altering the second TV clash between the Republican and Democrat candidates.

It was originally meant to be a "town hall" style event, with the two men facing questions drawn half from a group of undecided voters in the hall itself and the rest from social media.

 

[Nadeemp]

Only to his base, most people would prefer leaders who are calm, collected, and capable of demonstrating empathy.



No, he completely misread people's seriousness towards Covid and has been giving mixed messages from the very first day. His stance on basic things like masks and social distancing has been extremely confusing. He carelessly held rallies and events without enforcement of social distancing and masks. There are still questions on when Herman Cain contracted Covid and we all know what happened at the SCOTUS nomination event. He still decided to take a photo op while still contagious and putting his security team at risk and the first photo op of him when reaching white house was of him taking of the mask.

These antics do make him appealing to his base but are really unattractive for the undecided. There is a reason why Biden has a double digit lead in the polls without really even campaigning.

Trump the conman has been exposed. The way he has handled the pandemic is a joke. Hopefully he loses and we move on .

 

[GenericBrand]

Trump? No!, his bread and butter in a debate are shouting over his opponent and not let them complete the point. His base needs to see him acting like a teenager bully and he won't be able to do that in a virtual debate.

Yes I know, but he could just as easily shout, yell and interrupt in a virtual debate. No one outside his circle knows how COVID affected him, could be severe or not, but if it is effecting him then yelling and shouting would be strenuous on him. Btw I am referring to him backing out of the debates in general.

 

[Technics 1210]

Only to his base, most people would prefer leaders who are calm, collected, and capable of demonstrating empathy.



No, he completely misread people's seriousness towards Covid and has been giving mixed messages from the very first day. His stance on basic things like masks and social distancing has been extremely confusing. He carelessly held rallies and events without enforcement of social distancing and masks. There are still questions on when Herman Cain contracted Covid and we all know what happened at the SCOTUS nomination event. He still decided to take a photo op while still contagious and putting his security team at risk and the first photo op of him when reaching white house was of him taking of the mask.

These antics do make him appealing to his base but are really unattractive for the undecided. There is a reason why Biden has a double digit lead in the polls without really even campaigning.

The mixed messages came from WHO. WHO first claimed it was not human to human, then made a U-Turn. WHO then said mask would not work, but made another U-Turn.

WHO is the world's health organisation . This is where we got the cue from in past cases of viruses like Bird and Swine Flu.

It's very easy to criticise any government on the handling of C19 crisis in retrospect and hindsight, but put yourself in their shoes and what would you have done in the midst of the panic?

As for the Security team at risk. Come on dude. The security are paid to put their lives at risk for the President. Who is the guy who has to take the bullet for the President? Part of their job. The attendants of the rallies were tested for C19 no?

I don't trust the polling data. Certainly given election results between 2015 and present. There is a silent majority who will not speak up for Trump because the Liberals have ensured if they do then they will be labeled racists.

It's not over till the fat lady sings, but as I said before, I don't care who wins, but I would like Trump to win for the sheer fact he riles up the liberals and their reaction is priceless.

He is an unconventional, unorthodox, and real (what you see is that you get) entertainer at the global political stage. There is no rehersal, there are gaffs, mistakes, pure daylight cock-ups, but people can connect with that because people make the same mistakes.

We witnessed the outcome in the first debate. He shoots from the hip and the Amreekans love that. He also defied odds, and I am talking 1000 to 1 the day he announced he was running for President (Betfair) which makes him an underdog, and everyone loves an underdog.

Plus, deregulation of the financial system is great for the global stock market and Trump is a spearhead in deregulation.

Trump 2020
Pence 2024

 

[Star_Coffee]

Only to his base, most people would prefer leaders who are calm, collected, and capable of demonstrating empathy.



No, he completely misread people's seriousness towards Covid and has been giving mixed messages from the very first day. His stance on basic things like masks and social distancing has been extremely confusing. He carelessly held rallies and events without enforcement of social distancing and masks. There are still questions on when Herman Cain contracted Covid and we all know what happened at the SCOTUS nomination event. He still decided to take a photo op while still contagious and putting his security team at risk and the first photo op of him when reaching white house was of him taking of the mask.

These antics do make him appealing to his base but are really unattractive for the undecided. There is a reason why Biden has a double digit lead in the polls without really even campaigning.

If Biden wins then it is probably the easiest campaign he had to run for the presidency, letting Trump do all the work for Biden.

 

[Gayle_Force]

The mixed messages came from WHO. WHO first claimed it was not human to human, then made a U-Turn. WHO then said mask would not work, but made another U-Turn.

WHO is the world's health organisation . This is where we got the cue from in past cases of viruses like Bird and Swine Flu.

It's very easy to criticise any government on the handling of C19 crisis in retrospect and hindsight, but put yourself in their shoes and what would you have done in the midst of the panic?

As for the Security team at risk. Come on dude. The security are paid to put their lives at risk for the President. Who is the guy who has to take the bullet for the President? Part of their job. The attendants of the rallies were tested for C19 no?

I don't trust the polling data. Certainly given election results between 2015 and present. There is a silent majority who will not speak up for Trump because the Liberals have ensured if they do then they will be labeled racists.

It's not over till the fat lady sings, but as I said before, I don't care who wins, but I would like Trump to win for the sheer fact he riles up the liberals and their reaction is priceless.

He is an unconventional, unorthodox, and real (what you see is that you get) entertainer at the global political stage. There is no rehersal, there are gaffs, mistakes, pure daylight cock-ups, but people can connect with that because people make the same mistakes.

We witnessed the outcome in the first debate. He shoots from the hip and the Amreekans love that. He also defied odds, and I am talking 1000 to 1 the day he announced he was running for President (Betfair) which makes him an underdog, and everyone loves an underdog.

Plus, deregulation of the financial system is great for the global stock market and Trump is a spearhead in deregulation.

Trump 2020
Pence 2024

I guess we have to agree to disagree on Trump's handling of the Covid crisis.

If I just put it simply, go back to Jan 2020 and it looked like Trump will win by a landslide to the point where the election only seemed like a formality. Fast forward 10 months and Trump is really struggling and requires a real miracle to win. What changed the last 10 months? Largely Trump's handling of Covid.

There are examples of far too many leaders of the world who handled this so much better, including some leaders from third world countries.

Yea there are still a couple of weeks and Trump can still win but it seems to get more unlikely day by day.

Also, on a lighter note you are definitely one of the very few people I have encountered who thinks that Amreekans loved Trump in the first debate. Most people I have heard thought of it as a disaster and he single handily saved Biden in that debate.

 

[Gayle_Force]

If Biden wins then it is probably the easiest campaign he had to run for the presidency, letting Trump do all the work for Biden.

Yes definitely, if that happens, it will probably be the easiest campaign ever in American history.

 

[Bigboii]

I guess we have to agree to disagree on Trump's handling of the Covid crisis.

If I just put it simply, go back to Jan 2020 and it looked like Trump will win by a landslide to the point where the election only seemed like a formality. Fast forward 10 months and Trump is really struggling and requires a real miracle to win. What changed the last 10 months? Largely Trump's handling of Covid.

There are examples of far too many leaders of the world who handled this so much better, including some leaders from third world countries.

Yea there are still a couple of weeks and Trump can still win but it seems to get more unlikely day by day.

Also, on a lighter note you are definitely one of the very few people I have encountered who thinks that Amreekans loved Trump in the first debate. Most people I have heard thought of it as a disaster and he single handily saved Biden in that debate.

Yep agreed just by this logic alone we can judge at the very least people's perception of trumps covid handling was that he botched it and also the increased scrutiny around race after Floyd didn't help him either

Nope I don't think he won that debate Trump definitely had the upper hand just like Pence had the upper hand in debate but the proud boy moment blunted his debate and know peoples perception is that he lost or they were equal

But listening to Biden live you knew Trump was easily winning and Biden just looked/acted like a week old guy

 

[Technics 1210]

I guess we have to agree to disagree on Trump's handling of the Covid crisis.

If I just put it simply, go back to Jan 2020 and it looked like Trump will win by a landslide to the point where the election only seemed like a formality. Fast forward 10 months and Trump is really struggling and requires a real miracle to win. What changed the last 10 months? Largely Trump's handling of Covid.

There are examples of far too many leaders of the world who handled this so much better, including some leaders from third world countries.

Yea there are still a couple of weeks and Trump can still win but it seems to get more unlikely day by day.

Also, on a lighter note you are definitely one of the very few people I have encountered who thinks that Amreekans loved Trump in the first debate. Most people I have heard thought of it as a disaster and he single handily saved Biden in that debate.

Sometimes it's not the votes that decide elections, it's events. C19 is that event, and now potentially market performance. But yes, Trump had his second term in the bag in Jan 20.

Honestly, I believe Trump does it deliberately. He had his own TV show and I'm convinced he plays the camera, because he knows how to.

He earned nearly 500M from his show so he knows how to bring in the crowd and money. His rallies are packed. His social media followers are in the 10s of Millions. His one post on FB will hit 10K likes within 30min. His Tweets are breaking news. This guy is the full entertainment package. All the caps, spelling mistakes, the lot - it's all deliberate. The best part? It's unfiltered - striaght from the horses mouth. No interpretation, no spin, no media agenda. Trump is the first politican to embrace social media. The public love it cos it's refreshing.

Anyone who thinks Trump is a serious politican has made a grave mistake, he's just in it for the giggles with a few signatures along the way. This is my opinion.

In the meantime, it's entertainment all the way!

 

[Technics 1210]

In a nutshell, Trumps appeal as a 'politican' is that with all the goofs and gaffs and bravado, he appears human and not fake like other politicans.

 

[Gayle_Force]

Yep agreed just by this logic alone we can judge at the very least people's perception of trumps covid handling was that he botched it and also the increased scrutiny around race after Floyd didn't help him either

Nope I don't think he won that debate Trump definitely had the upper hand just like Pence had the upper hand in debate but the proud boy moment blunted his debate and know peoples perception is that he lost or they were equal

But listening to Biden live you knew Trump was easily winning and Biden just looked/acted like a week old guy

To be honest I was specifically talking about the comment that people loved Trump in the first debate. Which I don’t think is true and the debate was a complete disaster. I don’t think either person won the debate.

Trump campaign had set such a low bar for Biden that the fact he came out of that debate without saying something extremely stupid was enough. Trump IMO actually helped Biden by constantly interrupting and giving him less chance to speak.

 

[MenInG]

Donald Trump will speak at an event in Florida on Monday as he returns to the campaign trail after his coronavirus diagnosis - but his second debate with presidential rival Joe Biden will not go ahead.

The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced on Thursday that the debate scheduled for 15 October would be conducted virtually for "the health and safety of all involved".

However, the CPD said in a statement on Friday: "Subsequently, the campaigns of the two candidates who qualified for participation in the debate made a series of statements concerning their respective positions regarding their willingness to participate in a virtual debate on 15 October, and each now has announced alternate plans for that date.

"It is now apparent there will be no debate on 15 October, and the CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate scheduled for 22 October."

The final debate will take place at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, "subject to health security considerations".

Mr Trump's campaign team confirmed on Friday that the president will speak at an event at the Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida on Monday.

The president is also expected to address supporters from a balcony at the White House on Saturday in an event on "law and order", an official said.

https://news.sky.com/story/nancy-pe...e-an-unwell-us-president-from-office-12100241

 

[MenInG]

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden will hold competing prime-time Q&A sessions later on Thursday, from separate locations.

The events replace a cancelled second presidential debate after Mr Trump's refusal to participate virtually following his Covid-19 diagnosis.

The twin events, both televised at 20:00EST (00:00 GMT), will see the candidates field questions from voters.

Millions of early ballots have already been cast for the 3 November election.

Opinion polls suggest Mr Biden has a 10-point advantage over Mr Trump nationally, but his lead in some key states is narrower.

Who is ahead - Trump or Biden?A really simple guide to the US electionFact-checking Trump and Biden on the campaign trail

Campaigning has picked up the pace this week, with Mr Trump holding rallies in the battleground states of Florida, Pennsylvania and Iowa, and Mr Biden travelling to Ohio and Florida.

What can we expect?

President Trump's question and answer session - known as a town hall - in Miami, Florida, will be broadcast on NBC. A similar format for Mr Biden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is being aired live on ABC. The timing of the events means viewers will not be able to follow them both live, unless they use two separate screens.

NBC has come under criticism for the scheduling of President Trump's town hall event, which was only announced on Wednesday - days after Joe Biden's Q&A was arranged.

Responding to the backlash, which has reportedly come from staff within the network itself, an NBC representative told the New York Post that "ratings were the last on a long list of concerns after public health and [NBC's] public responsibility to inform viewers".

The news network says the event will take place outdoors, with President Trump and moderator Savaannah Guthrie kept at least 12 feet apart, and audience members socially distanced and required to wear masks.

IMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS

image captionAttendees were seen social distancing and wearing masks at Biden campaign events this week

It said it had received analysis from the government's top infectious disease specialist, Anthony Fauci, concluding "with a high degree of confidence" that the president was no longer "shedding infectious virus".

ABC news says it will "adhere to state and local health and safety guidelines" when staging former Vice-President Joe Biden's town hall event.

Mr Biden, 77, and Donald Trump, 74, are the two oldest candidates to contest a US presidential election.

Why not face to face?

The president tested positive for the virus on 1 October, spent three nights in hospital and was cleared by doctors to return to the campaign trail last weekend.

However, his diagnosis scuppered plans for a second head-to-head with Joe Biden - originally scheduled for Thursday. The committee organising the debates said it wanted to "protect the health and safety of all involved" by changing the format to a virtual debate, but the president refused to appear virtually rather than in person.

Joe Biden has reported multiple negative coronavirus tests since the president's diagnosis.

The pandemic, which has already killed more than 216,000 Americans, is likely to take centre stage in Thursday's prime-time televised events.

IMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS

image captionFew Trump supporters were seen wearing masks at his rally in Iowa on Wednesday

The candidates have struck different tones on the virus, with Mr Trump downplaying its severity and Mr Biden criticising him for not encouraging Americans to wear masks and social distance.

Events organised by the Mr Biden's team this week showed social-distancing measures in place, in contrast to Trump rallies where mainly mask-less crowds were seen packed close together.

Speaking in Florida on Tuesday, Mr Biden attacked the president's handling of Covid-19, telling elderly voters - who are more at risk of the virus - that Mr Trump saw them as "expendable".

Mr Trump has regularly mocked Mr Biden as a senior citizen who lacks energy and is "sleepy".

 

[MenInG]

US President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden have batted away key questions during duelling meet-the-voter TV events.

Mr Trump, a Republican, declined to disavow a bizarre online conspiracy, while Mr Biden, a Democrat, would not divulge his plans for the high court.

Both candidates were on the defensive at times on their records, Mr Trump for a range of issues and Mr Biden on race.

Opinion polls indicate Mr Biden has a solid lead over Mr Trump.

However, polling is still very close in several key states which could decide the election.

More than 18 million people have already voted in person or by post for the 3 November vote.

Thursday night's town halls, as TV voter question-and-answer events are known in the US, replaced a cancelled second presidential debate. Mr Trump had refused to join that showdown virtually, following the recent Covid-19 diagnosis from which he now appears fully recovered.

Who is ahead - Trump or Biden?A really simple guide to the US electionFact-checking Trump and Biden on the campaign trail

What were the key moments for Trump?

During his primetime event hosted by TV network NBC in Miami, Florida, the president was asked about the QAnon conspiracy theory, whose adherents believe that Mr Trump is battling a clandestine network of elites, often involving Satanic plots and child trafficking.

When moderator Savannah Guthrie asked Mr Trump whether he would reject them, he replied: "I know nothing about QAnon."

image captionMr Trump spent much of the broadcast arguing with the moderator

Ms Guthrie said she had just told him about the group, which has been labelled a potential terrorist threat by the FBI.

The president said: "I know nothing about it, I do know they are very much against paedophilia, they fight it very hard."

Mr Trump instead turned his fire on antifa, a loose-knit movement of mainly far-left activists blamed by the US Department of Justice for civil disorder in American cities during racial justice protests over the last few months.

For the first time, the president said he would accept a peaceful transfer of power if he lost next month's election, even as he expressed fears for the integrity of the vote. Federal election officials say there has been no evidence of widespread ballot fraud.

"And then they talk, 'will you accept a peaceful transfer,'" Mr Trump said. "And the answer is, 'Yes, I will.' But I want it to be an honest election, and so does everybody else."

Mr Trump deflected other questions about healthcare and tax returns and whether he took a coronavirus test on the day of his last debate with Mr Biden, saying: "Possibly I did, possibly I didn't."

The president spent much of the town hall arguing with the moderator, who disputed many of his statements.

But he beamed when one female voter prefaced her question by saying: "You're so handsome when you smile!"

https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54551058