The second presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden was originally scheduled for Thursday, October 15. The plan was for a town hall style debate between the two candidates.
But then Trump and numerous other White House staffers and Republican lawmakers tested positive for the virus that's killed over 200 thousand Americans. After three days of treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center, the President said he was still looking forward to the debate.
Due to concerns of further spreading the highly contagious virus, the CPD announced that the second debate would be done remotely, as multiple events including both parties' conventions had done before. Trump refused and pulled out of the second debate, saying he would only debate Biden in person.
As a result, Biden's campaign announced that Biden would hold his own town hall, which would air on ABC at 8pm on the night originally planned for the debate.
Never one to be upstaged, Trump's campaign coordinated with NBC to hold a town hall for him on the same night at the same time.
NBC faced widespread criticism for forcing voters to choose which event to watch, inviting accusations of using an election to orchestrate a ratings duel.
But Trump's critics aren't the only ones criticizing NBC—Trump himself is as well.
I will be doing a major Fake @NBCNews Town Hall Forum, live tonight from Miami, at 8:00 P.M. They asked me to do it in place of the Rigged Steve Scully (he is now suspended from @cspan for lying) Debate. I wonder if they'll treat me as well as Sleepy Joe? They should!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2020
Three and a half hours before his scheduled appearance, Trump fired off a tweet calling NBC fake news and mused whether or not they'd be as kind to him as he claims they've been to Biden.
Few people felt sympathetic for NBC.
HAHAHAHA congrats again to everyone at @NBCNews who had a hand in coddling the giant man-baby. #ETTD https://t.co/nQDuR8nOwX
— Marc Channick (@Sorry_What_Now) October 15, 2020
Hey @NBCNews , you got played. He is calling you fake.#BoycottNBC #BoycottMSNBC https://t.co/Rbwz2ERJ1L
— Devin Nunes Mom (@NotDevinsMom) October 15, 2020
Congrats NBC, real nice work here. https://t.co/a7FTvTzLqQ
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) October 15, 2020
Trump slurs NBC, apparently for being dumb enough to agree to his demand for a Townhall tonight opposite Biden's Townhall on ABC.
Everything Trump touches dies. Your turn, NBC. https://t.co/gXaCisSZ61
— John Aravosis 🇺🇸🇬🇷🏳️🌈 (@aravosis) October 15, 2020
NBC deserves every bit of this. This is what happens when you appease fascists for ratings https://t.co/JdrOc6H8mE
— Benjamin Dixon (@BenjaminPDixon) October 15, 2020
i hope everybody at @NBCNews feels appropriately stupid about their role in this https://t.co/A3onIGyIi6
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) October 15, 2020
You asked for it, @NBCNews.https://t.co/uRVcRn6R9D
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) October 15, 2020
Some urged NBC to cancel rather than take the insults of the candidate they're hosting.
How much humiliation can the media take from this two bit clown?
Have some pride, NBC. https://t.co/EhFTHK91XG
— Dave Pell (@davepell) October 15, 2020
Wow... just wow. NBC would be foolish to proceed after this tweet. https://t.co/YW9cxSDsCw
— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) October 15, 2020
If I were running @NBCNews and saw this, I'd cancel the town hall. https://t.co/rEFAImOj7C
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) October 15, 2020
The U.S. election is on November 3rd, but early voting is already underway in at least 40 states.
