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First Presidential Debate 2020: Did Trump ask not to mention Covid-19 deaths? Internet says 'he's playing dirty'

The Trump campaign denied that they made any such requests

As everyone waits for the much-anticipated presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, both campaigns are going at each other even hours before the actual debate. POTUS' campaign asked that both Trump and Biden undertake a drug test before the debate. They also asked that the former vice president should be checked for any earpieces or sound devices.

Following this, a staff writer for The Atlantic Edward-Isaac Dovere wrote on Twitter that Biden's deputy campaign manager and communications director Kate Bedingfield said the Trump campaign had allegedly put in the condition for moderator, Chris Wallace, not to mention the over 200,000 American deaths from the coronavirus during the debate. Dovere wrote: ".@KBeds of the Biden campaign says that the Trump campaign asked as a condition that Chris Wallace not mention the number of COVID deaths in the debate tonight."

On September 29, the Trump campaign denied allegations that it requested debate moderators to avoid mentioning the number of US Covid-19 deaths during the debate, reports The Hill. Trump campaign's director of communications Tim Murtaugh denied the allegation as he wrote on Twitter: “This is a lie and a continuation of the politicization of a public health crisis that Biden has been engaged in for months.”

Fox News had reported that the president’s re-election campaign wanted the Biden campaign to allow a third party to inspect the ears of each debater for electronic devices or transmitters. But a source said the Biden campaign has declined the ear check. “Joe Biden’s handlers several days ago agreed to a pre-debate inspection for electronic earpieces but today abruptly reversed themselves and declined. Biden’s handlers have asked for multiple breaks during the debate, which President Trump doesn’t need, so we have rejected that request," Murtaugh said, as per Fox News. Bedingfield hit back by answering, “His staff seems concerned that he may not do well tonight and they’re already laying the groundwork for how they’re going to lie about why. It is completely absurd. Of course, he’s not wearing an earpiece and we never asked for breaks.”  Bedingfield also added, “If we’re playing that game, the Trump team asked that Chris Wallace never mention the number of COVID deaths once during the debate. You can consider that confirmed from the Biden campaign. See how easy that was to try and throw out a distraction. It is pathetic. It’s weak. Once again the Trump campaign is lying. They’re going to process because they don’t want to debate Joe Biden on the substance. You go to process when you can’t go to substance.”

It is clear that coronavirus is going to be one of the important topics to be discussed in the debate. Twitter users also joined the discussion. Activist and podcaster Scott Dworkin wrote: “The Trump campaign asked Chris Wallace to not mention the number of virus deaths tonight. Don’t worry, Biden will bring it up, because it actually matters to him. #Debates2020.” Another user said, “So, Trump is requesting that Chris Wallace not mention the number of US COVID deaths. How y'all feeling about that?” Another wrote: “I believe the 'begging' was Trump not wanting Chris Wallace to ask about how many people have died of Covid-19 because of Trump's negligence and incompetency.” One stated, “Surely Fox’s Chris Wallace said he would not take special requests from the campaign.” Another user said, "Trump is playing dirty and needs to be taught a lesson." One said, "Biden campaign searching for anything after denying the drug test." Another said, "As if Trump doesn't know Biden will bring that up hes only been blaming Trump for the China Virus for a year now. Text book fake news."

According to John Hopkins University and Medicine, the US has been hit hard by the virus, with almost 7 million reported infections and more than 205,000 deaths.

MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) cannot independently verify and does not support any claims being made on the Internet.