The move comes one day after the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates announced the debate would be held virtually, following the president’s diagnosis of and hospitalization for the novel coronavirus.

“On October 8, CPD announced that for the health and safety of all involved, the second presidential debate, scheduled for October 15 in Miami, would be conducted virtually,” the CPD said in a statement, officially announcing the cancellation of the debate. “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 October 15, and each now has announced alternate plans for that date.”

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

Immediately after that announcement was made about a virtual debate Thursday morning, Trump said in an interview with Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo he would not “waste my time with a virtual debate” and was not going to participate.

The Trump campaign later Thursday said the president would participate if the debate — as well as the third scheduled debate — were pushed back a week. The Biden campaign shot down that idea, noting the dates had been decided in June.

With Trump refusing to participate to a virtual format, Biden agreed to participate in an ABC News town hall moderated by ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos in Philadelphia on Oct. 15, the original date of the second debate, taking questions directly from voters.

Trump also scheduled his own town hall event for the night. He’ll be taking part in an event aired on NBC Thursday night in Miami, sources familiar told ABC News.

Biden’s reacted to the cancellation of the second presidential debate in a statement through a spokesperson, calling it “shameful” that Trump “ducked the only debate in which the voters get to ask questions.”

“Vice President Biden looks forward to making his case to the American people about how to overcome this pandemic, restore American leadership and our alliances in the world, and bring the American people together,” campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said. “It’s shameful that Donald Trump ducked the only debate in which the voters get to ask the questions — but it’s no surprise. Everyone knows that Donald Trump likes to bully reporters, but obviously he doesn’t have the guts to answer for his record to voters at the same time as Vice President Biden.”

Trump 2020 communications director Tim Murtaugh slammed the “biased commission” for canceling the Oct 15 debate, saying “there’s no medical reason to stop” it.

“There’s nothing that says that President Trump and Joe Biden can’t debate together without the overlords at the commission having a say in the matter,” Murtaugh added. “We would be glad to debate one-on-one without the commission’s interference.”

Trump is also expected to host an event at the White House on Saturday, the first day his doctor cleared him to participate in “public engagements,” and a rally in Sanford, Florida, on Monday.

Both candidates have agreed to participate in the next debate, moderated by Kristen Welker of NBC News, on Oct. 22.

Speaking at a cabinet session on Wednesday, Rouhani said last night’s debate between the two candidates in the 2020 US presidential election indicated the tough conditions the United States is mired in.

Pointing to the “worst handling” of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, the worst unemployment rate in that country, and the escalating unrest inside the United States, Rouhani said Washington has also failed to achieve any victory in the foreign policy arena.

“They (Americans) have failed in the foreign policy as well. They have been unsuccessful in the face of Iran, the region, the Pacific (region), Europe, and NAFTA. They have failed everywhere in the foreign policy,” the president added.

It is natural for the US to be seeking to divert the numerous problems from inside to the outer world, that’s why it is hatching plots against Iran, Rouhani added.

“Today, the US has adopted the most hostile, most criminal and most terrorist-like policies against the Iranian nation with a population of 84 million,” he deplored.

In comments in November 2018, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei highlighted the diminishing influence of the US government in all areas of power, saying Washington has even discredited “liberal democracy” which is known as the basis of Western civilization.

There is a consensus among major international experts that the US power is dwindling in all areas, the Leader underscored, adding that, conversely, the Iranian nation is moving forward and has a bright future.

Ayatollah Khamenei also branded the US government as the loser of confrontation with the Islamic Republic over the past 40 years, saying the fact in confrontation between the US and Iran is that “the victorious side in this challenge has been the Islamic Republic of Iran and the loser has been the US.”

The former nominee’s confession came after feminist writer Jill Filipovic tweeted that former Vice President Joe Biden’s off-the-cuff remark of “Will you shut up, man?” was “the line of the night.”

Filipovic later added, “I so feel for Hillary right now, because I’m positive she wanted to say that and couldn’t”, the USA Today reported.

“You have no idea,” Clinton replied.

Clinton was the first female major-party nominee for president when she faced Trump four years ago. In her first debate versus Trump, he interrupted her 51 times, according to a county by Vox.

She, in turn, interrupted him just 17 times. And unlike Biden, she resisted the urge to tell him to “shut up.”

Prior to the debate, Clinton told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow that she would be watching the debate with “real interest, and a certain level of expectation.”

“Unlike four years ago, Donald Trump now has a record,” she explained. “Everyone has seen what he has done to our country, what he has failed to do.”

After lauding Biden for his “toughness” and “humanity,” Clinton said she was “looking forward to the debate.”

Clinton told Maddow that Trump has lost “his big advantage” of reality television stardom.

“I think his series is about to be cancelled,” she joked. “It’s just the same story over and over again: lying with impunity, attacking when you have nothing to say, unable to give an answer that is frankly coherent.”

For his part, Trump mentioned Clinton once during the debate, reprising the moniker “Crooked Hillary Clinton” and accusing Democrats of attempting a “coup.”

After the heated debate, Chasten Buttigieg took to twitter to express his sympathy for Clinton, too.

“Has anyone checked in on @HillaryClinton?” He wrote. “Girl I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks, I’m fine,” she replied. “But everyone better vote.”