The 2020 election will be unlike any other election in modern history. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the presidential debates will be incorporating social distancing rules in an attempt to keep both candidates safe and healthy.

 However, last Thursday, Donald Trump revealed via Twitter that he had tested positive for the virus tweeting, “Tonight, FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” 

This diagnosis resulted in the Commission on Presidential Debates canceling the second scheduled event due to Trump’s unwillingness to participate in an online debate. 

The first debate was held on September 29 in Cleveland, Ohio, where important topics such as SCOTUS, COVID-19, the economy, race issues and violence, Trump and Biden records, and the integrity of the election were discussed. After the debate, both parties were criticized for their responses, or lack thereof, to some of the questions. For example, when given the opportunity to directly condemn white supremacists, Donald Trump directed his response toward the Proud Boys, saying to “Stand back and stand by,” which they later used as a slogan to encourage their actions. This upset but did not surprise some viewers at home who were hoping to hear the President respond properly.

The next scheduled meet between Trump and Biden will take place on October 22 at Belmont University in Nashville, TN which will be the last of two before election day on November 3.