The mayor of Miami wants President Trump to skip next week’s planned in-person debate against Joe Biden if he’s still testing positive for the coronavirus.
“I don’t think it’s safe, not for him and anybody else, anywhere or anyone he interacts with,” Republican Mayor Francis Suarez said in an interview with Politico.
“Remember, this thing is highly contagious,” Suarez said. “How many people are infected in his inner circle, in the White House, senators, et cetera?”
Trump, who tested positive for the virus last week, said Tuesday said he still plans to attend the Oct. 15 debate in the Florida city.
The mayor of surrounding Miami-Dade County said he’s not worried.
“We have a number of people here positive that we know of and don’t know of. We will know what his contagion level is and take the appropriate precautions,” Mayor Carlos Gimenez, also a Republican, told the outlet.
But other experts in Miami echoed Suarez’s worries.
“Under no circumstance should he be traveling to perform in a debate at this time,” Dr. Aileen Marty, a Florida International University epidemiologist, told Politico. “He is contagious to others and a health risk to others. Doing so is also a health risk to him.”
The two campaigns have been battling over what precautions to take at this week’s vice presidential debate in Utah, with Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris seeking a plexiglass barrier and Vice President Mike Pence’s team saying it isn’t necessary.
Trump, 74, tweeted Tuesday that he was “FEELING GREAT” as he continues to battle the virus along with several others in his inner circle.
“I am looking forward to the debate on the evening of Thursday, October 15th in Miami. It will be great!” Trump added in a follow-up tweet.
Trump’s campaign has said the president is eager to get back to stumping as the race enters its crucial final month.
“Once he gets out of the hospital, he’s ready to get back to the campaign trail,” senior campaign adviser Jason Miller told NBC over the weekend, before the president left the hospital Monday. “He sounded pretty energetic.”