Cedric Richmond blasted for saying he won't handshake Trump in CNN debate with Biden

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden's campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond declared he would not shake former President Trump's hand on stage during a discussion regarding decorum between the two presidential contenders in the CNN debate on Thursday night, June 27.

"I don‘t think I would [shake Trump's hand], but President Biden consistently rises above pettiness, unlike Donald Trump," Richmond said on CNN Thursday morning. "So I would leave that up to him, but with what I‘ve been through with the former president, I certainly would not."

Cedric Richmond on if Joe Biden should shake Donald Trump's hand

During the 2020 election season, Donald Trump and Joe Biden participated in two presidential debates; while the third was canceled.

They will debate each other on the same platform on Thursday night, with CNN serving as the host. "Should President Biden shake Donald Trump's hand?" CNN host Kasie Hunt asked Richmond. "Does he deserve that?"

"That's up to President Biden. I'm sure there's no love lost there," he said. "I wouldn't shake his hand."

"I was in the Capitol when [Trump] sent insurrectionists, the Proud Boys and others to the Capitol, chanting ‘Hang Mike Pence’, looking for Leader Pelosi, I was there that day," Richmond said. "Because of that, I don't think I would."

Cedric Richmond is unsure if Joe Biden will call Donald Trump a 'convicted felon' on the debate stage 

Cedric Richmond also said to Kasie Hunt that he wasn't sure if Biden would refer to Trump as a "convicted felon" during the debate after the former president was found guilty in a landmark May decision of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

"If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it‘s a duck," Richmond said, per Fox News. "He's a convicted felon, and that‘s just who he is. And by the way, he‘s a twice-impeached convicted felon."

"It wasn‘t Joe Biden that did that, it was 12 American patriots who served as jurors that found him guilty unanimously on 34 counts and so I‘m not sure if the president will or not, but I certainly will," he said. "He’s a convicted felon."

Internet chastises Cedric Richmond following his remark on Donald Trump

Netizens lashed out at the Biden campaign co-chair after he stated that he would not shake hands with the former president on stage.

One X user tweeted, "Go ahead and let America see that, that will only make Biden look worse."

Another added, "Yet they say Trump won't be 'nice' to Biden. Please. Democrats are so disrespectful to President Trump and the media enables it."

"I've heard when a demon touches a holy being that they burst into flames. Coincidence?" one user mocked Richmond.

Another remarked, "i hope he doesnt, that would just help Trump even more lol."

"I wouldn’t touch creepy Joe wearing a hazmat suit," said one while a user commented, "He only shakes imaginary hands." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.