US Presidential Debate 2020 Event Highlights: First Biden-Trump face-off concludes, veers from 'How you doing?' to 'Will you shut up?'

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Mail-in ballots a disaster: Trump 

In his closing statement, Trump has reiterated that mail-in ballots “is a disaster”. “This is going to be a fraud like you have never seen. We are going to do well. But, who knows? We are not going to know (the election results) for months.”

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Trump is Putin’s puppy: Joe Biden 

Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Tuesday accused Donald Trump of failing to confront Russia, accusing the US leader of being the “puppy” of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I’ve gone head to head with Putin, and made it clear to him – we’re not going to take any of this stuff. He’s Putin’s puppy,” Biden said of Trump.

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US presidential debate displayed contrasting styles of Donald Trump, Joe Biden

Trump’s debating style helped carry him to victory and can still be glimpsed almost every time he appears at a White House news conference or a rally.

But Biden’s performances have been inconsistent over the course of two vice presidential debates and through this season of nearly a dozen Democratic primary debates. Even his supporters say that, at 77, his voice is less firm and that he appears less energetic and passionate than just eight years ago. Trump has highlighted some of those moments to try to raise doubts about his opponent’s mental acuity.

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Debate veers from ‘How you doing?’ to ‘Will you shut up?’

It started out civil enough, with President Donald Trump striding deliberately to his lectern, and Democrat Joe Biden nodding to his opponent and offering, “How you doing, man?”

Within 15 minutes, the interruptions and talking over one another at Tuesday’s presidential debate had deteriorated to the point that Biden blurted out, “Will you shut up, man?”

There were no handshakes to start the first presidential debate of the 2020 general election. The traditional nicety was one of several formalities abandoned because of the ongoing pandemic.

The 90-minute faceoff played out in a makeshift debate hall with a crowd of under 100 people due to coronavirus safety restrictions, in an atrium that previously was set up for use as a hospital for COVID-19 patients.

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Show up and vote, in whichever way is best for you: Biden 

To ensure a fair election, Democratic candidate Joe Biden said America should let people vote, even by mail-in ballots, make sure polls are open in time and stay open till all votes are counted.

“Show up and vote. You will determine the outcome of this election. Vote, vote, vote. Vote in whatever way is the best way for you,” Biden told the electorate.

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Trump and Biden lash, interrupt each other

In what was the most chaotic presidential debate in recent years, somehow fitting for what has been an extraordinarily ugly campaign, the two men frequently talked over each other with Trump interrupting, nearly shouting, so often that Biden eventually snapped at him, “Will you shut up, man?”

“The fact is that everything he’s said so far is simply a lie,” Biden said. “I’m not here to call out his lies. Everybody knows he’s a liar.”

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‘Under Trump administration, America has become weaker, sicker, poorer and more divided’: Biden

On why the electorate should vote for him, Donald Trump said, “There has never been an administration or a president who has done more than I have done in three and a half years.” Biden, said, “Under this president, we’ve become weaker, sicker, poorer and more divided.”

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Biden argues his climate plan would pay for itself

Trump attacked Biden for his climate policies, claiming his proposals would cause economic catastrophe. When asked whether he supported the Green New Deal, Biden said he did not because he has his own climate plan.

“I support the Biden plan that I put forward, which is different than what he calls the radical Green New Deal,” Biden said.

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Trump claims Biden wants to shut down America

President Donald Trump claimed several times that Joe Biden wanted to shut down the country to address the coronavirus. “He wants to shut down this country and I want to keep it open,” Trump said.

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Trump sidesteps white supremacist condemnation

President Donald Trump danced around a question from moderator Chris Wallace about whether he was willing to condemn white supremacists and military groups.

“I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not the right wing,” Trump responded. “I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace.”

When pressed further, Trump said, “What do you want to call them? Give me a name. Give me a name?”

Finally he said, “Proud Boys — Stand back, stand by, but I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not right-wing problem….. This is a left wing problem."

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I don’t know Beau, I know Hunter: Trump

Biden criticized Trump over reports that he described fallen American soldiers as “suckers” and “losers”. Biden noted that his late son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, served in Iraq for a year and received the Bronze Star.

Trump responded by dismissing the memory of Biden’s son, telling his opponent, “I don’t know Beau; I know Hunter.”

The president then launched into more attacks against Biden’s younger son for his business activities and past drug use.

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Biden calls Trump a racist, says he uses ’everything as a dog whistle to try to generate hatred’

Joe Biden said that Trump attempts to make everything into a racial “dog whistle” tonight, arguing that the President has “done virtually nothing” for African Americans during his time as president.

During a prolonged segment on race, the two fought over who would handle issues of race, culminating in Biden calling Trump a racist.

Asked why he would be better at tackling issues of race, Biden attacked Trump for equivocating on the racist right-wing rally in Charlottesville in 2017 with the protests in response and the fact that protesters outside the White House were forcibly moved earlier this year so the President could walk to a nearby church.

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Stand back and stand by: Trump to far-right group Proud Boys

Democratic challenger Joe Biden called on Trump to denounce white supremacist violence, weeks after two anti-racist protesters were shot and killed in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Trump responded by telling the far-right group Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.”

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Trump, Biden trade barbs about each other’s families

While Biden was making a point during the first presidential debate in Cleveland about the Trump administration’s trade deals with China not having the desired effect, Trump jumped in. He resurrected past claims about the former vice president’s son Hunter working overseas.

Trump said Hunter Biden reaped millions in ill-gotten profit from China and other overseas interests, accusations that have been repeatedly debunked. Biden shot back, “None of that is true.” He then added of Trump, “His family, we could talk all night.”

Trump interrupted to respond that his children gave up lucrative jobs to join government and “help people,” which left moderator Chris Wallace pleading, “Mr. President, please stop” trying to restore order on the stage.

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Trump continues to boast COVID-19 vaccine will be available soon 

Donald Trump has continued to boast that a coronavirus vaccine will be available before the 3 November election. However, public health experts – including CDC director Robert Redfield – have called that timeline unlikely and dangerous. Redfield, testifying before the Senate, said a vaccine would likely be widely available in “late second quarter, third quarter 2021”.

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Biden release tax returns ahead of debate

US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has released his tax returns just hours ahead of the first debate with President Donald Trump. Biden and his wife Jill paid nearly $288,000 (£224,000) in income tax last year, according to the filings.

He has called on the president to release his returns.

The move follows a report by the New York Times that Trump paid just $750 in income tax in 2016. He dismissed said the claims as “fake news”. For years Trump has been criticised by Democrats for not making his tax returns public as his predecessors did.

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Trump claims ’no negative effect’ from rallies

President Donald Trump says he’s had “no negative effect” from massive campaign rallies with thousands of attendees not adhering to social distancing recommendations amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Trump said during Tuesday night’s debate against Democrat Joe Biden that he thought masks “are OK,” pulling one out from his pocket and saying, “I wear masks when needed.”

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Hard to get any word in with this clown: Biden on Trump’s COVID-19 plan

As expected, Trump attacked Biden’s son, Hunter, for his business dealings in Ukraine, which became a target of Republican ire during the impeachment inquiry.

Biden tried to redirect the conversation back to the coronavirus pandemic, saying this was about every American family, not his family.

As Trump repeatedly tried to interject and attack his opponent, Biden said, “It’s hard to get any word in with this clown – excuse me, this person.”

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You’re the worst president America has ever had’: Biden to Trump

Trump was pressed on the _New York Time_s story about his tax returns, which showed he paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017.

The president claimed he had paid “millions” in income taxes. Biden responded by repeatedly pressing Trump to release his tax returns, and the president claimed he would soon, which he has been saying since 2015.

“You are the worst president America has ever had,” Biden said.

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Biden slams Trump for downplaying COVID-19

Joe Biden asked the American people whether they trust Trump about coronavirus, noting that the President told journalist Bob Woodward in February that he downplayed the virus.

“Do you believe for a moment what he’s telling you, in light of all the lies, he’s told you about the whole issue relating to Covid,” Biden said, looking straight into the camera. “He still hasn’t even acknowledged that he knew this was happening, knew how dangerous it was going to be back in February, and he didn’t even tell you.”

Biden continued: “He’s on record as saying it. He panicked or he just looked at the stock market, one of the two, because guess what, a lot of people die and a lot more are going to die unless he gets a lot smarter, a lot quicker.”

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Trump questions effectiveness of face masks

Trump questioned the effectiveness of masks as a means of mitigating the spread of coronavirus. Biden noted health experts have said 100,000 lives could be saved over the next few months, if Americans consistently wear masks and practice social distancing.

The president responded by claiming many health experts have said “the opposite” about masks.

“No serious person has said the opposite,” Biden said.

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Biden criticises Trump’s response on COVID-19 

The debate has shifted to coronavirus after a largely unproductive segment on the supreme court that was defined by crosstalk and insults.

Biden criticized Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, noting the country is still recording roughly 40,000 new cases a day.

Referencing Trump’s comments to Bob Woodward that he downplayed the seriousness of the virus to avoid creating a panic, Biden told America, “You don’t panic, he panicked.”

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President has no plan for COVID-19: Biden 

Joe Biden attacked Donald Trump over COVID-19 at US Presidential debate. “Seven million contracted the virus. The President has no plan for pandemic,” said Biden.

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Trump attacks Biden on health care

Trump repeatedly mocked Biden, suggesting the Democratic nominee’s comments on health care would cost him support among progressives. Biden responded by calling Trump a “liar” and a “clown.”

When Trump interrupted another one of Biden’s answers, the Democrat said, “Will you shut up, man?”

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‘Will you shut up, man?’ exasperated Biden asks combative Trump’

“Folks do you have any idea what this clown is doing?” Biden said about Trump #Debates2020

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) September 30, 2020

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I am the Democratic party right now: Biden to Trump

When US President Donald Trump claimed Joe Biden wanted to push the country toward “socialist medicine,” the Democrat emphasized that he is not a socialist.

Biden replied to Trump’s broader attacks against Democrats by saying, “I am the Democratic party right now.”

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Trump justifies nomination of Amy Coney Barrett

Debate moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News asked about the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. Wallace noted Republicans have been criticized for trying to get Barrett confirmed before the election.

Trump justified advancing the nomination by saying “elections have consequences,” referring to his White House victory in 2016, and by pledging Barrett would be “as good as anybody that has served on that court.”

“We won the election, and therefore we have the right to choose her,” Trump said.

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First question to Trump is on the Supreme Court

Donald Trump and Joe Biden have now taken the debate stage in Cleveland, Ohio. The first presidential debate is officially underway with discussion on president’s Supreme Court pick.

US Presidential Debate 2020 Event begins

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Trump ready for debate: Mike Pence

Vice President Mike Pence said during remarks at a Make America Great Again event and presidential debate watch party that he spoke with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday morning and that “he’s ready” for the debate tonight.

“It’s gonna be a great night,” Pence said. “I can tell you I left the President earlier today in the Oval Office. And he’s ready. We’re ready.”

He later said, “Somebody said to me. How long has the President been preparing for the debate? I said all his life.”

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What is the format of the debate?

The candidates will not have opening statements, and Trump will receive the first question from the moderator. Each segment will last about 15 minutes, and the candidates will have two minutes to respond after the moderator opens each segment with a question.

Chris Wallace of Fox News will then use the rest of the time in the segment to facilitate further discussion on the topic, according to the commission.

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What is the venue of the debate?

The debate will be held at the Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Ohio has traditionally been a swing state over the past two decades, but Trump won there by eight points in 2016. The state is seen as trending towards becoming more solidly Republican, due to its whiter, older population compared with the rest of the US.

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Topics shortlisted for Trump-Biden debate

The 90-minute debate will be divided into six 15-minute segments. Each segment will focus on vital topics including the candidates’ records, the Supreme Court, the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy, race and violence in the US, and the integrity of the election.

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Biden and Trump to clash in first debate at 6.30 am IST

Donald Trump and Joe Biden are scheduled to meet on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The 90-minute event, moderated by Fox News host Chris Wallace, will be the first of three scheduled presidential debates.