US Presidential Debate: Chaos ruled in the first US Presidential Debate between incumbent President Donald Trump and Democrat Presidential candidate Joe Biden on September 30, 2020. Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden battled fiercely over a variety of issues including Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare and the US economy.
The first Presidential debate turned out to be a chaotic shouting match marred with personal insults and Trump's repeated interruptions, which led his Democrat rival Joe Biden to ask him to 'shut up'. The debate comes just 35 days ahead of one of the most tense US elections in recent times.
The debate was held at the Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Presidential debate was moderated by Chris Wallace, who failed miserably to establish control over the debate with Trump repeatedly ignoring his calls to let his rival speak.
US Presidential Debate: Key Highlights
The first Trump-Biden presidential debate began with no hand-shake rule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Trump and Biden did not shake hands or wear masks as they entered their first White House debate while adhering to COVID protocols on social distancing.
On Healthcare and COVID-19 handling
• In the opening exchange over healthcare, Trump accused Biden of being a "socialist". He stated that there is no way there are as many as 100 million people with pre-existing conditions.
• Biden was sharply critical of Trump’s handling of the COVID pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans, accusing him of failing to protect Americans because he was more concerned about the economy.
When I hear 200,000 deaths, I think of the empty chairs at dining room tables all across the country, which just months ago were filled by loved ones.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 30, 2020
It didn’t have to be this bad.
• Joe Biden slammed Trump's handling of COVID-19 by saying, "He waited and waited and waited. He still has no plan." Biden urged Trump to get off his golf course, go in the Oval Office and bring together the Democrats, Republicans and fund what needs to be done now to save lives.
• Trump, on the other hand, stated that it would be 200 million COVID deaths if Biden was in charge. He further stated that India, Russia and China don’t give out real COVID death numbers.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2020
• Biden made a comeback by pointing out that a lot of people died and a lot more are going to die unless Trump gets a lot smarter a lot quicker. Trump responded by saying "there's nothing smart about you, Joe."
• Further while responding to Biden's remarks on him not wearing masks, Trump stated that he wears a mask when he thinks he needs it. He said that he does not wear masks like Biden. He attacked Biden by saying that every time you see him, he has a mask. Trump said, "He could be speaking 200 feet away, and he has the biggest mask I've ever seen!"
• Speaking on Biden's proposed approach to developing COVID vaccine, Trump stated that people like this would rather make it political than save lives. Trump further called Biden's handling of the H1N1 outbreak during the Obama administration a "disaster."
• Biden responded to Trump's claims by calling him "totally irresponsible'' on managing Covid-19 and said the president is "a fool on this." Biden also called Trump the worst president America has ever had.
Donald Trump is the worst president we've ever had.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 30, 2020
On white supremacists and military groups
Moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump about whether he was willing to condemn white supremacists and military groups. Trump responded by saying almost everything he sees is from the left-wing, not the right-wing. He further stated that he is willing to do anything to see peace. He added saying that somebody's got to do something about Antifa and left-wing groups.
Biden accused Trump by saying that 1 in 1,000 African Americans has died because of the coronavirus, and if Trump doesn't do something quickly, it will be 1 in 500.
Trump retorted saying that "I'm letting people out of jail now,'' and asserted that Biden had treated the Black community "about as bad as anybody in this country."
Biden slammed Trump saying, "This man, this man is a savior of African Americans? This man has done virtually nothing." Further, when Trump interrupted him, Biden called him a clown. Both the candidates were making their pitches to win over Black voters in the upcoming election.
On climate change
The moderator then asked Trump about his believes on the science of climate change. To this, Trump responded saying that he wants crystal clean water and beautiful air. He highlighted that America is doing phenomenally, but he has not killed businesses.
Speaking on forest wildfires that have ravaged several US cities in the past two years, Trump stated that they need better forest management to manage the fires.
Biden slammed the Trump administration saying, "Under this president, we've become weaker, sicker, poorer, more divided and more violent."
Under this president, we have become weaker, sicker, poorer, more divided, and more violent.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 30, 2020
When I was vice president, we inherited a recession, I was asked to fix it, and I did.
We left Donald Trump a booming economy, and he caused a recession. pic.twitter.com/uEMPaTtZ7F
On Supreme Court Justice
The two Presidential candidates also clashed on Trump’s effort to fill the US Supreme Court Justice seat after the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg earlier this month.
Trump while defending his new Supreme Court choice Amy Coney Barrett said that she is good in every way. "I think she will be outstanding," said Trump. He further stated that elections have consequences, "We won the election, election have consequences. We have the Senate, we have the White House, and we have a phenomenal nominee respected by all."
Biden, on the other hand, argued that Ginsburg’s seat should be filled after the election, as she had requested before her death.
The American people deserve to have a say in who the Supreme Court nominee is. pic.twitter.com/jnFXiDkt2c
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 30, 2020
On China
US President Donald Trump attacked his Democrat Rival Joe Biden by saying that he did not think that American should have closed itself to China because he thought it was terrible.
On US Election Result
Democrat Presidential Candidate Joe Biden said during the debate that he will accept the vote result, while Trump deflected the question saying that the US election result may not be known 'for months.'
Background
The two Presidential Candidates had taken the stage for the first time together five weeks before the much-awaited US Presidential Election Day. The stakes are extremely high for both sides.
The Presidential debate follows months of Black Lives Matter protests over police brutality against Black Americans, which turned violent in few instances and Trump's failed handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump has more debates scheduled with Biden in October, while Vice President Mike Pence and Democrat vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris are scheduled to clash next week.
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