Trump’s illness throws Miami debate into doubt
Donald Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis forced the cancellation of a Friday rally in Central Florida and threw a debate in Miami with Democratic nominee Joe Biden into question.
Biden is still expected to travel to South Florida on Monday, when he’s scheduled to participate in an outdoor town hall hosted by NBC at the Perez Art Museum Miami. But it remained unclear Friday evening if Trump’s illness would force the cancellation of an Oct. 15 town hall debate with Biden in Miami at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
The Commission on PresPresident idential Debates, which sponsors the events, did not respond Friday to requests for comments.
The Centers for Disease Control’s website lays out a timetable that could put Trump in the clear for a Miami appearance if he recovers quickly. The agency states people who tested positive for COVID-19 with symptoms “can be with others” if 10 days have passed from the time symptoms first appeared, including at least 24 hours without a fever or feverreducing medication.
Johann Zietsman, CEO of the Arsht Center, said the facility hasn’t reserved other dates if the Oct. 15 event must be postponed.
He said Friday morning that the debate commission hadn’t called since news broke of Trump’s diagnosis.
There was no word on any contingency plans that might be in the works from debate organizers. With the debate set to be the first live event at the Arsht since it closed at the start of the COVID crisis in March, there’s plenty of room on the calendar if a later date is needed, he said.
“They can shift the dates if that’s going to make a difference,” Zietsman said. “Our schedule is very light.”
He also said he’s not aware of technical barriers if the Commission on Presidential Debates wanted to consider allowing the candidates to appear on video before the Arsht audience. The Miami debate is planned to unfold as a town hall, with 36 undecided voters asking questions of Biden and Trump.
But he said any sort of remote-video arrangements wouldn’t involve the Arsht Center, which provides the theater but not the equipment.
“They bring in an extensive amount of video technology,” he said. “We are just the venue.”