Donald Trump has thrown plans for his second presidential debate with Joe Biden into disarray after saying he will not take part in a virtual event.

The president’s declaration came less than an hour after organisers announced that the debate would be taking place virtually.

The Commission on Presidential Debates said the decision was made to “protect the health and safety of all involved”, with the president’s positive coronavirus test having come just days after the first debate last week.

The commission said both candidates would appear at the second TV debate, scheduled for next Thursday, from separate locations.

But, in an interview shortly after the announcement was made, Mr Trump said: “I’m not going to do a virtual debate.”

Mr Trump returned to the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday, despite still recovering from COVID-19.

His doctors said the president had had no coronavirus symptoms for the past 24 hours.

In a video posted to his Twitter account later on Wednesday, Mr Trump promised that the treatment he received while in a military hospital would be offered to Americans for free.