Donald Trump claims Joe Biden is 'hiding in a basement' refusing to debate him just hours after Democratic candidate said he's willing to go head-to-head on 'Zoom, Skype, Slack or in person, anytime, anywhere'

Donald Trump on Thursday complained Joe Biden was hiding in a basement and unwilling to debate him hours after the former vice president said he'd be happy to head-to-head with the president 'anytime, anywhere.'

Refusing to address his Democratic opponent by name, Trump complained Biden was getting a free pass from the media while he was getting criticized.    

'We have a sleepy guy in the basement of the house that the press is giving the free pass to who doesn't want to do debates because of covid,' Trump said at the daily White House press briefing. 

But earlier Thursday Biden said he would debate the president on 'Zoom or Skype or Slack or hangouts or in person.'  

'I can hardly wait to debate Donald Trump,' Biden said when questioned by donors during an online fundraiser. 'Are you kidding?

'Look, I'm ready to debate him. Zoom or Skype or Slack or hangouts or in person, anytime anywhere he wants,' he said.

+3

President Donald Trump complained Biden was hiding in a basement and unwilling to debate him

+3

But Joe Biden said he was ready and willing to debate the president on 'Zoom or Skype or Slack or hangouts or in person, anytime anywhere he wants'

Trump goes after Biden saying he's 'a sleepy guy in a basement'

Loaded: 0%

Progress: 0%

0:00

Previous

Play

Skip

Mute

Current Time0:00

/

Duration Time2:05

Fullscreen

Need Text

Presidential debates are organized by the bipartisan commission on presidential debates, which picks the time, date, location, moderator and topics. There are usually three presidential debates and one vice presidential.

It's unclear if the coronavirus out break will affect them. They typically take place in September and October. 

Biden did debate under coronavirus conditions. His last primary debate with Bernie Sanders took place on Sunday, March 15, at the CNN studio in Washington D.C. 

There was no audience. Only the two candidates, the moderators and a TV crew were in the room in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines to cut down on the spread of the coronavirus.

The two men elbow bumped instead of the traditional handshake.  

The former vice president has been holed up in his Wilmington, Delaware, house, obeying stay-at-home recommendations. 

He did have a studio built in his basement so he could give television interviews and hold virtual campaign events. Biden has been active, holding virtual town halls, fundraisers, holding press conferences and giving TV interviews. 

Biden leads Trump in the RealClearPolitics polling average on the general election by six points.  And a series of state polls out Thursday found Biden leading Trump in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - all states won in 2016 and needs in his corner again this fall. 

Trump, who has admitted he is ready to get back out on the campaign trail, has given daily press briefings at the White House. 

He had a litany of complaints at Thursday's, mainly about press coverage of his administration, which he argues has been unfair.

Biden, too, has been the subject of critical news articles - including in-depth stories on allegations from a former staffer that he sexually assaulted her when he was a senator and she worked in his office. 

Biden has denied the allegation. And while women have said Biden's hands on approach - he often givens hugs, squeezes arms and is a touchy-feely person - has made them uncomfortable there has only been the on allegation of sexual assault. 

But Trump complained he has taken the most hits.  

+3

Joe Biden debated Bernie Sanders under coronavirus conditions on Sunday, March 15, at the CNN studio in Washington D.C. where there was no audience - the two men elbow bumped instead of shaking hands

'We've done a good job and gotten very little credit for the good job that we've done because of the media. It's not an honest media in my opinion. We have some great reporters, but much of the media is not on honest,' he said. 

He said Biden gets a pass: 'You have a large portion of the media automatically, giving that guy a pass.'

He went on to list the offenses against him, including coverage of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, which he called a hoax; the impeachment inquiries; and all other probes of his presidency and business career that he refers to under the blanket term 'witch hunt.'  

'If we have an honest press this country would be even greater,' Trump declared. With that he ended the briefing and walked out of the press room.