The Latest: Biden cites Trump tweet in governor kidnap plot
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the 2020 presidential campaign (all times local):
4:55 p.m.
Democrat Joe Biden says President Donald Trump's tweet earlier this year to 'œLIBERATE MICHIGAN'ť may have encouraged a now-foiled kidnapping plot against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, though the criminal complaint itself doesn't say that.
A federal complaint says Thursday that six men plotted to kidnap the Democratic governor at her vacation home in reaction to what they viewed as her 'œuncontrolled power."
There's no indication in the complaint that the men were inspired by Trump. Authorities also have not publicly said whether the men were angry about Whitmer's coronavirus orders.
Biden said ahead of an Arizona campaign swing that Trump 'œhas to realize that the words he utters matter.'ť He was asked specifically whether he thought the Trump tweet directed at Whitmer's COVID-19 restrictions might have encouraged her would-be kidnappers. He said, 'œYes, I do.'ť
Biden says he and his running mate, Kamala Harris, have both spoken with Whitmer on Thursday. Whitmer was among the finalists that Biden considered for the vice presidential slot.
Whitmer herself publicly pinned some blame on Trump earlier Thursday, noting that he did not condemn white supremacists in last week's debate with Biden and instead told a far-right group to 'œstand back and stand by.'ť
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HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE:
President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden are arguing about their upcoming debates. The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates announced Thursday that the second debate would take place virtually because of the president's diagnosis of COVID-19. Trump said he wouldn't participate, then proposed moving each of the next two debates back a week. Biden rejected that idea.
Read more:
- Trump, Biden teams debate next debate: Next week? Never?
- Trump's path to 270 narrows, Wisconsin mirrors swing state plight
- Trump hails virus treatment, says he's ready to do rallies
- Biden, Harris aim to tip battleground Arizona for Democrats
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HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
4:30 p.m.
Joe Biden says he won't reveal under after the Nov. 3 election whether he'd consider adding seats to the Supreme Court.
The Democratic presidential nominee told reporters in Arizona on Thursday that voters will 'œknow my opinion on court packing when the election's over.'ť He said answering the hypothetical and politically fraught question would play into President Donald Trump's hands.
Biden has joined his party's senators in calling for Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to delay a confirmation vote on Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, until after the election. Barrett would give the court a 6-3 conservative majority.
Some progressives want Biden and Democrats to commit to expanding the court with a slate of liberal justices if they take power in January. Trump and Republicans are using that scenario in the hopes of animating the GOP base and perhaps coaxing votes from some moderate Republicans who dislike Trump but care about the court makeup.
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4:15 p.m.
Democrat Joe Biden is calling on President Donald Trump to stop insulting his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, after the president called her a 'œmonster'ť during a TV appearance.
Speaking to reporters Thursday on the tarmac in Phoenix, Biden called the Republican president's comments 'œdespicable'ť and 'œso beneath the office of the presidency.'ť He added of the president: 'œIt's obvious he has great difficulty dealing with strong women.'ť
Trump made the comments Thursday on Fox Business in reference to Harris' performance during Wednesday night's vice presidential debate with Mike Pence. Harris, who is campaigning in Arizona with Biden, declined to comment on the president's remarks.
The presidential election is 26 days away.
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3:20 p.m.
Joe Biden will participate in an ABC News town hall on Oct. 15, the date originally slated for a second town hall presidential debate between the Democrat and President Donald Trump.
The move on Thursday comes after Trump pulled out of their planned duel town hall following an announcement by the Commission on Presidential Debates that it would be held virtually because of the president's COVID-19 diagnosis.
Biden has called for pushing back the town hall format to Oct. 22, effectively replacing the third planned debate. Trump countered with pushing back both debates, holding a town hall on Oct. 22 and then a third debate Oct. 29, just days before the Nov. 3 election.
George Stephanopoulos will host the Biden town hall in Philadelphia.
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1:45 p.m.
Joe Biden's presidential campaign says the Democratic nominee tested negative for COVID-19.
It's at least the fifth time Biden has tested negative since President Donald Trump confirmed that he had contracted the coronavirus.
Biden is campaigning in Arizona on Thursday. Trump remains sidelined at the White House.
The president's illness helped cast the remaining presidential debates into doubt. The Commission on Presidential Debates said the Oct. 15 town hall debate would be virtual. Trump refused to participate and proposed pushing back that debate and the third debate originally scheduled for Oct. 22.
Biden's campaign rejected that idea. The commission will make the final determination.
Biden said earlier this week there should be no in-person debates as long as Trump still has the virus.
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1:15 p.m.
Joe Biden is rejecting President Donald Trump's proposal to push back their remaining two debates in the wake of Trump's coronavirus diagnosis, and the Democrat says it's not up to Trump to set the schedule.
Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield says the campaign had long ago agreed to debate dates of Sept. 29, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.
Debate organizers on Thursday said next week's event would be a virtual one due to Trump's having COVID-19. The president immediately objected to that format, said he wouldn't take part and pressed for the candidates to meet in person. His campaign then proposed the town hall postponed by one week, to Oct. 22, and the third debate held on Oct. 29.
The Biden camp says Trump's 'œerratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar and pick new dates of his choosing."
Bedingfield says Biden looks forward to the Oct. 22 debate, which she says is 'œtied for the latest debate date in 40 years.'ť
The election is Nov. 3.
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12:40 p.m.
President Donald Trump's campaign is proposing delaying the two remaining presidential debates by one week to ensure the debates can take place in-person, rather than virtually, after Trump's coronavirus diagnosis.
The Commission on Presidential Debate announced Thursday that next week's town hall debate in Miami would be held virtually because of Trump had the virus. The president immediately objected to that format, and he said he wouldn't take part.
Trump's campaign manager Bill Stepien says in a statement that the 'œAmerican people should not be deprived of the chance to see the two candidates for president debate face to face two more times'ť before the election.
Stepien says the campaign would like to see the town hall postponed by one week, to Oct. 22, and the third debate held on Oct. 29.
Democrat Joe Biden's campaign had also asked that town hall be moved back a week 'œso the president is not able to evade accountability.'ť
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12 p.m.
Joe Biden's presidential campaign says because of President Donald Trump's rejection of a virtual presidential debate on Oct. 15, the Democratic challenger will hold his own town hall event the same night.
Biden spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield said in a statement late Thursday morning that the Commission on Presidential Debates should reschedule the town hall debate for Oct. 22. That's the night a third debate was to take place.
The commission earlier Thursday had announced that any Oct. 15 debate would be virtual because of Trump's recent COVID-19 diagnosis. Biden said he was willing to abide by the format change, but Trump blasted the decision and argued without evidence that the commission was trying to help Biden.
Bedingfield said in her statement that Trump is trying to 'œevade accountability'ť by avoiding facing voters directly.
'œThe voters should have a chance to ask questions of both candidates, directly,'ť she said. 'œEvery presidential candidate since 1992 has participated in such an event, and it would be a shame if Donald Trump was the first to refuse.'ť
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8:10 a.m.
President Donald Trump, who has the coronavirus, says he will not participate in next week's presidential debate if it's held virtually.
Trump says in a Fox Business interview that that arrangement is 'œnot acceptable to us.'ť
And he's accusing moderators of trying to protect his Democratic rival Joe Biden.
The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates had announced moments earlier that the second debate between Trump and Biden will take place virtually because of the president's diagnosis of COVID-19.
The commission cited a need 'œto protect the health and safety of all involved with the second presidential debate'ť and said the candidates would 'œparticipate from separate remote locations'ť while the participants and moderator remain in Miami.