The second presidential debate has been canceled

Next week’s second presidential debate has been officially canceled.

The Commission on Presidential Debates — the governing body of United States political debates — made the announcement on Friday.

The debate, which was supposed to happen in Miami on Thursday, October 15, was moved to a virtual format after President Trump contracted coronavirus and was later hospitalized. While the physician to the president says Trump can now return to the campaign trail, the Trump administration has refused a virtual debate. Former Vice President Joe Biden and his camp have refused to hold the debate in person.

As a result, the commission has canceled the debate.

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“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 October 15,” reads the published statement by the Commission. “Each now has announced alternate plans for that date.”

“It is now apparent there will be no debate on October 15.”

According to the statement, organizers will now shift their focus to the planned October 22 debate, which has been scheduled for Nashville.