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Presidential debate live: Trump tries to steamroll Biden in chaotic clash Presidential debate live: Trump tries to steamroll Biden in chaotic clash
(32 minutes later)
Candidates faced off in Cleveland, Ohio, with Chris Wallace of Fox News moderating the bitterly personal showdownCandidates faced off in Cleveland, Ohio, with Chris Wallace of Fox News moderating the bitterly personal showdown
That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan, for today. My colleague Martin Belam will take it from here.
I leave you with CBS political analyst (and former debate host) John Dickerson’s take on the debate.
“When the stakes were that high, the debate couldn’t have been lower,” he says:
Here is the full story from my colleagues Kari Paul and Lois Beckett on how the Trump was received at watch parties in California:
After recording in the early hours UK time and with, he says, his “jaw somewhere close to the floor”, the Guardian’s Jonathan Freedland discusses the highlights and lowlights of the debate with Guardian columnist Richard Wolffe on this today’s episode Politics Weekly Extra:
Van Jones, the CNN political contributor and CEO of the organisation Reform, which advocates for criminal justice reform, said:
“The commander in chief refused to condemn white supremacy on the global stage in front of my children, in front of everybody’s families. And he was given the opportunity many times to defend white supremacy.”
Here is our story on that moment from the debate:
The New York Times headline for Wednesday 30 September puts the blame for that chaotic debate on Trump, while the Washington Post’s subheading reads: “Trump interrupts, jeers ceaselessly.”
One of the moments that stands out from the debate is Biden’s response to Trump’s attacks on his son Hunter.One of the moments that stands out from the debate is Biden’s response to Trump’s attacks on his son Hunter.
Here is some of that exchange, in which Trump quickly moved the conversation away from Biden bringing up the president’s previous criticism of US soldiers as “suckers” and “losers”.Here is some of that exchange, in which Trump quickly moved the conversation away from Biden bringing up the president’s previous criticism of US soldiers as “suckers” and “losers”.
Hunter Biden was not dishonourably discharged, but he was discharged from the Navy Reserve after he failed a drug test. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015 when he was 46.Hunter Biden was not dishonourably discharged, but he was discharged from the Navy Reserve after he failed a drug test. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015 when he was 46.
The Washington Post’s Jacqueline Alemany:The Washington Post’s Jacqueline Alemany:
CNN’s Eric Bradner:CNN’s Eric Bradner:
Here is Guardian political correspondent Lauren Gambino’s story on tonight’s debate:Here is Guardian political correspondent Lauren Gambino’s story on tonight’s debate:
The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden deteriorated into an ugly display of contempt on Tuesday night, as the president relentlessly interrupted and attacked his Democratic rival during clashes over the coronavirus pandemic, race, the economy and the future of the supreme court.
Over the course of an extraordinarily combative and chaotic 90-minute performance, a fitting coda to what has been one of the nastiest presidential campaigns in recent memory, Trump interjected so frequently that Biden at one point lost his patience and snapped: “Will you shut up, man? This is so unpresidential.
With just five weeks left until election day, Trump is trailing in national and battleground state polls. Amid accusations that he has mishandled the pandemic and damaging reports about his finances and past comments on the military, the debate was perhaps Trump’s best opportunity yet to shift the dynamics of the race, which has been remarkable steady throughout an exceptional turbulent summer:
Hi, Helen Sullivan joining you now.Hi, Helen Sullivan joining you now.
I’ll be bringing you analysis of and reactions to the debate for the next while. If you have questions, facts you’d liked checked or have news you think we should see, get in touch on Twitter @helenrsullivan.I’ll be bringing you analysis of and reactions to the debate for the next while. If you have questions, facts you’d liked checked or have news you think we should see, get in touch on Twitter @helenrsullivan.
That’s it from us tonight. My colleague Helen Sullivan will be providing more analysis of the first presidential debate for the next while.That’s it from us tonight. My colleague Helen Sullivan will be providing more analysis of the first presidential debate for the next while.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the night:Here are some of the key takeaways from the night:
The debate turned into a chaotic mess, largely because of Trump’s constant interruptions. The president consistently interrupted Biden and moderator Chris Wallace, creating an unproductive stream of crosstalk with little substantive discussion of policy. The debate turned into a chaotic mess, largely because of Trump’s constant interruptions. The president consistently interrupted Biden and the moderator, Chris Wallace, creating an unproductive stream of crosstalk with little substantive discussion of policy.
Wallace was criticized for losing control of the debate. A number of commentators said Wallace failed to sufficiently curtail Trump’s interjections, resulting in what many longtime political reporters called the worst presidential debate in recent US history.Wallace was criticized for losing control of the debate. A number of commentators said Wallace failed to sufficiently curtail Trump’s interjections, resulting in what many longtime political reporters called the worst presidential debate in recent US history.
Trump refused to condemn white supremacist violence. Addressing the Proud Boys, Trump told the far-right group to “stand back and stand by.” Social media posts indicated that members of the Proud Boys took the comment as a sign of encouragement from the president. One Proud Boys social media account even posted a photo of the group’s logo with the words “stand back and stand by” alongside it. Trump refused to condemn white supremacist violence. Addressing the Proud Boys, Trump told the far-right group to “stand back and stand by”. Social media posts indicated that members of the Proud Boys took the comment as a sign of encouragement from the president. One Proud Boys social media account even posted a photo of the group’s logo with the words “stand back and stand by” alongside it.
The night was defined by insults and personal attacks. Trump attacked Biden over the business dealings of his son, Hunter, and dismissed Biden when he reflected on the loss of his eldest son, Beau. In moments of frustration, Biden also criticized Trump as a “liar” and a “clown.” The night was defined by insults and personal attacks. Trump attacked Biden over the business dealings of his son, Hunter, and dismissed Biden when he reflected on the loss of his eldest son, Beau. In moments of frustration, Biden also criticized Trump as a “liar” and a “clown”.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
It’s also important to remember that Trump came into tonight’s debate trailing in the polls.It’s also important to remember that Trump came into tonight’s debate trailing in the polls.
According to the FiveThirtyEight average of national polls, Biden currently has a 7.1-point advantage over Trump. The Democratic nominee is also leading in polls of key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.According to the FiveThirtyEight average of national polls, Biden currently has a 7.1-point advantage over Trump. The Democratic nominee is also leading in polls of key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
So Trump needed to win over undecided voters and potentially even pick off some of Biden’s supporters with his performance tonight, and it’s very unclear that his strategy of constant interruptions achieved that. So Trump needed to win over undecided voters and potentially even pick off some of Biden’s supporters with his performance tonight, and it’s very unclear if his strategy of constant interruptions achieved that.
One woman from Pennsylvania who was part of a post-debate focus group said she was undecided going into tonight but is now leaning toward Biden because Trump acted like a “crackhead” tonight.One woman from Pennsylvania who was part of a post-debate focus group said she was undecided going into tonight but is now leaning toward Biden because Trump acted like a “crackhead” tonight.
After a chaotic debate tonight, the United Farm Workers would like Americans to be “thankful for the workers who bring us tequila after this debate”.After a chaotic debate tonight, the United Farm Workers would like Americans to be “thankful for the workers who bring us tequila after this debate”.
The farmworkers union has been engaged in get out the vote efforts, focused on empowering agricultural communities and Latino voters to cast ballots.The farmworkers union has been engaged in get out the vote efforts, focused on empowering agricultural communities and Latino voters to cast ballots.
– Maanvi Singh– Maanvi Singh
Fox News anchor Chris Wallace is weathering criticism for his moderating of the first presidential debate.
Many commentators said Wallace failed to retain control of the debate as Trump repeatedly interrupted Biden and talked over his opponent and the moderator.
Wesley Lowery, a “60 Minutes” correspondent, also said Wallace should have followed up when Trump told the far-right group Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” rather than condemning white supremacist violence.
Fact check: drug prices
Donald Trump claimed that he has lowered drug prices, and noted that insulin is now so cheap it’s “like water”. Insulin costs about $300 per vial – and people with diabetes need two or more vials per month.
The president also said that in the future, he’d bring down drug prices by “80 or 90” percent”, though he has failed to explain how that would happen. Although Trump has issued measures to address drug pricing, they have not yet rolled out, and their effects are unclear.
Trump, for example, has sought to allow the US to import drugs from countries where prices are lower – but that would take a while to work out, and require regulatory actions.
Meanwhile, the House last year passed a bill that would authorize Medicare to negotiate prices for expensive medications - in a plan that is much farther-reaching and ambitious than what Trump has done.
– Maanvi Singh
Trump just tweeted this photo, suggesting he was up against both Biden and moderator Chris Wallace during tonight’s debate.
Trump made a similar comment during the debate, as Wallace asked the president for the details of his health care plan.
“I guess I’m debating you, not him. But that’s okay, I’m not surprised,” Trump told Wallace.
The Fox News host was criticized for his handling of the debate, with many commentators saying Wallace failed to sufficiently curtail Trump’s repeated interruptions and crosstalk during the event.
A CNN instant poll of debate watchers showed 60% of viewers said Biden won the debate, while 28% believed Trump won.
Those results are almost identical to the CNN instant poll taken after the first debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton.
In 2016, 62% of viewers said Clinton won the first debate, and 28% said Trump had the better showing.
Donald Trump’s campaign’s official line is that the president “just turned in the greatest debate performance in presidential history,” but Chris Christie, who was on Trump’s debate prep team had a less positive assessment.
Christie, the former New Jersey governor, told ABC that Trump was “too hot”.
“With all that heat, you lose the light,” he said. “That potentially can be fixed. Maybe, maybe not.”
“I do believe that the American people benefited from a clear contrast of what they’ve got right now, but also what they can get and what is possible,” said Kamala Harris, reflecting on tonight’s cacophonic debate.
On CNN, Harris – like Biden and several other Democratic politicians – condemned the president’s refusal to disavow white supremacists. “The president of the United States, in the year of our lord 2020, refuses to condemn white supremacists,” she said.
She evaded a question about whether she and Biden would support adding justices to the Supreme Court – an option that some Democrats have endorsed as Republicans rush through a conservative nominee ahead of the election. Harris said they’ll “deal with later later.”
– Maanvi Singh
Here are a few headlines from major US newspapers summarizing tonight’s chaotic presidential debate:
New York Times: “With Cross Talk, Lies and Mockery, Trump Tramples Decorum in Debate With Biden.”
Wall Street Journal: “Trump, Biden Clash in Contentious First Debate.”
Washington Post: “First Trump-Biden meeting marked by constant interruptions by Trump.”
On a post-debate call with supporters, the Biden campaign said it raised $3.8m on the fundraising site ActBlue through 10 and 11pm ET tonight.
That number represents a new campaign record for a single-hour fundraising total and could help Biden build more of a cash advantage against Trump.
Biden raised a record-shattering $364.5m last month, out-raising Trump by more than $150m.
Progressives have denounced Donald Trump’s comments on the Proud Boys.
“Donald Trump is a white supremacist,” wrote the New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “People have been warning about this for a long time. They were ridiculed, called hyperbolic & radical - not bc they were wrong, but bc others couldn’t accept that our country elected a supremacist as President.”
Rashida Tlaib, of Michigan, echoed: “An important reminder that while racism is being debated, Donald Trump, a white supremacist, just told them to stand by. This again shows he is dangerous.”
Belén Sisa, the former Latino press secretary for Bernie Sanders, said: “When someone shows you who they really are believe them.”
– Maanvi Singh
Biden’s digital director said the campaign had its best online fundraising hour between 10 and 11pm, as the first presidential debate concluded.