President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden’s first presidential primary debate took place Tuesday at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Fox News’ Chris Wallace moderated the evening and asked the Republican and Democratic candidates their points on issues including COVID-19, the economy, and mail-in ballots.
According to Wallace, the Commission on Presidential Debates designed the format to be six, fifteen-minute segments, with each candidate allowed two-minutes answers to the first question then an open discussion for the rest of each segment.
Wallace opened the debate by asking the candidates’ their views on nominating Amy Coney Barrett after the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and how she could affect the court’s decision making in the future. President Trump was the first to give remarks.
“We have a phenomenal nominee, respected by all,” Trump said. “Top, top academic, good in every way. In fact, some of her biggest endorsers are very liberal people from Notre Dame and other places so I think she’s going to be fantastic.”
Trump added that it was his right to choose her as he had won the election and was entitled to exercise his appointing power all four years of his term.
Biden’s response was that the American public had a right to choose a Supreme Court nominee, “just as they have a right to choose the president.”
“They’re not going to get that chance now because we’re in the middle of an election already, the election (has) already started,” Biden said. “Tens of thousands of people have already voted. The thing should happen is we should wait.”
Trump made continuous interruptions as Wallace shifted to healthcare, speaking over the moderator as he attempted to ask questions throughout the evening.
“Mr. President, I am the moderator of this debate and I would like you to let me ask my question and then you can answer,” Wallace said.
Trump had passed a “largely symbolic executive order” four days before the debate to protect citizens with pre-existing medical conditions according to Wallace. President Trump responded to Wallace with a statement before entering his answer on a plan to replace former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which has been a highly contentious matter in this year’s presidential election.
“Well, first of all, I guess I’m debating you and not him [Biden] but that’s ok, I’m not surprised,” Trump said.
He continued by stating that he was the first president to ever use “favorite nations” to reduce drug prices by “80 or 90%” adding that Biden “could’ve done it in your 47-year period in government but you didn’t do it.”
Wallace asked Biden whether he would support a filibuster for Barrett’s senate confirmation or “packing the court” if she were confirmed and as Democratic candidate was speaking, Trump continuously spoke over him eventually leading to the phrase of the night.
“Would you just shut up, man,” Biden said.
Wallace shifted to COVID-19 asking the candidates how they would have handled the pandemic. Biden stated that Trump hadn’t done enough, knowing the seriousness of the diseases as early as February. Trump stated that Biden would’ve moved even slower.
“I closed it and you said ‘he’s xenophobic, he’s a racist and he’s xenophobic’ because you didn’t think we shoudl’ve closed our country because you thought it was terrible,” Trump said. “You wouldn’t have closed it for another two months.”
Wallace brought up campaign rally sizes stating that Trump was holding “large rallies packed with people” in contrast to Biden’s smaller rallies, asking each candidate to explain their stance.
“Because people want to hear what I have to say,” Trump said.
Wallace asked Trump whether he was worried about the disease.
“Well so far we have had no problem whatsoever,” the president said. “It’s outside that’s a big difference according to the experts. If we do them outside we have tremendous crowds as you see.”
Biden’s response was that “he’s been totally irresponsible the way in which he has handled the socially distancing and people wearing masks, basically encouraging them not to.”
One of Wallace’s segments dealt with race issues. Trump was asked whether he would denounce white supremacists groups and instead offered a general response.
“What do you want to call them, give me a name, give me a name…The Proud Boys stand back and stand by’ but I’ll tell you what I’ll tell you what, someone has to do something on Antifa,” Trump said.
In a segment dealing with manufacturing, Trump and Biden entered what can only be described as a shouting match leading to Biden calling Trump a “clown”. Wallace, in raised voice, attempted to end the discussion shifting to a new segment and gave a reminder.
“In those two uninterrupted minutes, Mr. President, you can say anything you want. I’m going to ask a question about race but if you want to speak on something else, go ahead,” Wallace said. “But I think the country would be better served if we allowed both people to speak with fewer interruptions. I’m appealing to you, sir, to do that.”
In another segment, Wallace raised the issue of holding campaign rally sizes during the pandemic stating Trump was holding “large rallies packed with people” in contrast to Biden’s smaller rallies, asking each candidate to explain their stance.
“Because people want to hear what I have to say,” the president said.
Wallace asked Trump whether he was worried about COVID-19.
“Well, so far we have had no problem whatsoever. It’s outside, that’s a big difference according to the experts,” the president said. “If we do them outside we have tremendous crowds as you see.”
The former vice president responded to saying “he’s been totally irresponsible the way in which he has handled the social distancing and people wearing masks, basically encouraging them not to.”
In the segment dealing with racial issues, Trump was asked whether he would denounce white supremacists groups and responded. Trump replied, “What do you want to call them? Give me a name, give me a name…’The Proud Boys stand back and stand by’ but I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you what, someone has to do something on Antifa,” Trump said.
As Wallace asked the candidates to explain why voters should choose them over the other, Biden began speaking and less than one minute into his response he was interrupted by Trump. Wallace had this to say.
“Wait a minute, Mr. President, your campaign agreed to both sides would get two-minute answers, uninterrupted,” Wallace said. “Well, your side agreed to it and why don’t you observe what your campaign agreed to as a ground rule.”
The integrity of mail-in ballots was called up as in previous tweets Trump has said it is a “rigged election.” Biden responded with this.
“His own Homeland Security director and as well as the FBI director say there is no evidence at all that mail-in ballots are a source of being manipulated and cheating,” Biden said. “They said that. The fact is there are going to be millions of people because of COVID that are going to be voting by mail-in ballots, like, he does by the way. He sits behind the Resolute desk and sends his ballot to Florida.”
Biden continued saying that he would accept the results of the election, whether in his favor or not and that Trump would have to transition his presidential power. Trump stated that there was not a transition of power when he took office in 2016.
“When I listen to Joe talking about a transition, there’s been no transition from when I won, I won that election and if you look at ‘Crooked’ Hillary Clinton, if you look at all of the different people there was no transition,” The president said. “Because they came after me trying to do a coup, they came after me spying on my campaign. They started from the day I won and even before I won…”
The night ended with Wallace closing the debate, having to interrupt the president from continuing to speak.
The vice presidential debate will happen Oct. 7 at the University of Utah and moderated by Susan Page of USA Today.
The second presidential debate will take place on Oct. 15 in Miami and will be moderated by Steve Scully of C-SPAN.
The third, and final, the presidential debate will be Oct. 22 in Nashville and moderated by Kristen Welker of NBC News.
FOR VAQUERO RADIO, I’M JUSTIN ELIZALDE.
