President Donald Trump, left, and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, left, during the second and final presidential debate Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Seated in the center is moderator Kristen Welker of NBC News (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)US Presidential Elections 2020 Live Updates: In their final debate ahead of the November 3 presidential election, President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden discussed a host of issues including Covid-19 and the pandemic economy, racism and police brutality, foreign policy, healthcare and climate change. The debate, unlike the previous one, was more disciplined and substantive.
Ahead of the debate, the organisers had said both Trump and Biden would be allowed two uninterrupted minutes to respond to each segment. While this brought more structure to the debate, there were moments when the conversation went off course, only to be brought back by moderator Kristen Welker of NBC News.
In only one instance was India mentioned. While speaking on climate change, Trump called the air quality in India, China and Russia “filthy”. He said, “India, it’s filthy. The air is filthy.”
Americans are set to elect a new president on November 3. The vote this year is expected to be heavily influenced on their response to the pandemic, apart from key issues like racism and police brutality which have brought thousands of people on to the streets in the last few months. At least 35 million people have already cast their ballots, according to University of Florida’s US Election Project, more than a fourth of the total 2016 vote.
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo: AP)
This debate, unlike the first one, was disciplined and substantive. However, there were points where the two leaders went off course, only to be brought back by moderator Welker.
The NYT analyses the debate: "The tone couldn’t have been more different from the first debate. Trump had some strong moments – the crime bill, job creation. Biden was strongest on climate and a vision for his term. Trump was at a loss to discuss the children separated from their parents. Biden sometimes went way off course. In all cases, the absence of interruptions was welcome."
When asked what he would say at the inaugural address if elected president again, Trump says he would say "we are on the road to success." Meanwhile, Biden, in his closing remarks, reminds voters: "What is on the ballot this year is the character of this country".
Joe Biden says, "Global warming in the next essential threat to humanity. We have a moral obligation. Four more years of this man (Trump), will put us in a position where we will be in real trouble."
On climate change, Trump compares the US to other countries, saying, "Look at China, Russia, India, how filthy it is. The air is filthy." Trump also says he "took us out" of the Paris Accord because it was "so unfair". "We have the cleanest air, the cleanest water and the best carbon emissions," he adds.
Biden responds to Trump on racist: "He pours fuel on every single racist fire... This guy has a dog whistle about as big as a fog horn."
The NYT reports: "The overwhelming majority of Black and Latino men are supporting Biden, but even a small difference on the margin — or even convincing those men not to bother voting at all — could make a difference in battleground states."
Welker raises the issue of racism in America. Trump says his first glimpse of the Black Lives Matter protest was of people walking down the street calling the police "pigs". "I thought it was a terrible thing. I think I have great relationships with all people. I am the least racist person in this room," Trump tells Welker. "I am... I can't see the audience, but I am the least racist person in this room."
Donald Trump tells Biden at this point: "I ran because of you. I ran becuase you did a bad job. If you had done a good job, I would not have run for president." To this, Biden responds, "Our character is on the ballot. Look at us closely."
NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker is receiving praise on social media for the way she is moderating this debate. "It took a woman of color to give us a functioning debate, who would have thought," one user wrote, while another said, "Kristen Welker redirecting like a boss and keeping these fools on task."
Trump questions Biden on the "cages" built at the border. An NYT fact checker finds that it was the Obama administration that built these facilities to hold migrants.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden are now discussing a report that appeared yesterday, claiming the parents of 545 children separated at US border with Mexico can’t be found. Immigration has never before been discussed in general-election debates.
"We're working on it. We're trying very hard," says Trump when asked if he had a plan to reunite these children with their parents. Trump claims the kids could have crossed the border in cartels or coyotes.
Biden retorts that the kids came "with parents" and were separated at the border. "It's not coyotes... they got separated from their parents. That makes us a laughing stock."
NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker brings up the next topic of discussion, the economy. "12 million people are out of work, 8 million have fallen into poverty. Those hit hardest include women and those of colour. What is your plan, she asks the President. Trump blames Nancy Pelosi for failing to pass a stimulus. NYT fact checks this claim: "It's Senate Republicans who are the ones blocking an agreement on a relief bill."
On healthcare, Trump says, "We have done an incredible job on healthcare, and we will do even better". The NYT reports: "Trump and the Republicans have repeatedly said that they have an alternate plan for health care, but they have never specified what it is."
Biden, meanwhile, says, "I will pass Obamacare with a public option. Secondly, we will reduce premiums and drug prices. I support private insurance." On concerns over a healthcare system run by the government, Biden says, "Healthcare is not a priviledge, it's a right. This will save lives, give people an opportunity."
Here are some pictures from the debate that is underway between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden. (AP Photos)
Joe Biden responds to his alleged links with Ukraine: "I did my job impeccably. I carried out US policy. Not one single solitary thing was out of line. Second, the guy who got in trouble in Ukraine was (Trump), who tried to get someone there to speak out against me. My son has not done anything." Biden targets Trump his payments to China.
The discussion on national security has changed to one on taxes. "I prepay millions and millions of dollars in taxes," Trump reiterates. "I paid in advances, it's called prepaying..."
Biden, meanwhile, responds: "Show us. Stop playing around. Show us. What we do know, is that you're not paying taxes, or your payment is so low. Come on!"
"We are in a situation where we have foreign countries trying to interfere in our elections," says Biden, adding that anyone who meddles in the election "will pay a price". Here's the report we carried yesterday detailing the alleged meddling, as announced by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe.
Trump, on the other hand, responds to the allegations saying: "There's been nobody tougher than me on Russia. I was told by Ratcliffe that Russia wants me to lose."
NYT reports: "Each segment is supposed to last for 15 minutes. The moderator has allowed this discussion on coronavirus – perhaps the No. 1 subject on voters’ minds right now – stretch out longer. There are many Americans who watch the opening 30 minutes of a debate and tune out the rest."
During the first part of this debate, President Trump has been seen both underplaying the pandemic as well as highlighting his role to defeat it. In fact, Trump has now announced that it may be unlikely that a vaccine will be unavailable before the November 3 election. He also said it would likely be distributed "by the military."
Unlike the first debate, President Donald Trump seems calmer and more respectful to the debate procedure. "If I may answer", and a "thank you" to the moderator are some of the things Trump has said so far, which we didn't see in the first debate. The NYT analyses the debate: "It’s early folks. I feel like in these things you can start to see the President getting more visibly annoyed, which is when the heated tone picks up."
Joe Biden, speaking on the pandemic, tells Americans, "We're in a circumstance where the President thus far has no comprehensive plan. I would make sure we move in a direction where people wear masks, we have rapid testing, we have national standards on opening up schools and businesses. Folks, I will take care of this, I will end this, I will make sure we have a plan."