Trump, Biden meet in Nashville for final presidential debate
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden holds up a mask as President Donald Trump takes notes during the second and final presidential debate Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)
The final 2020 presidential debate, moderated by NBC’s Kristen Welker, took place last night at Belmont University in Nashville. The debate, which comes after the cancellation of the previous virtual one, consisted of six segments held at 15 minutes each. It also incorporated muting abilities at the hands of the Commission on Presidential Debates.
COVID-19
Welker directed the first question of the night at Trump, asking the president how he would lead the country during the next stage of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump began his answer by shifting the blame to China, claiming his administration has played a positive role in combating the spread within the U.S.
“We closed up the greatest economy in the world in order to fight this horrible disease that came from China,” Trump said. “It’s a worldwide pandemic. It’s all over the world.”
The president gave an update on the highly anticipated COVID-19 vaccine, mentioning that it is “ready.”
President Donald Trump speaks during the second and final presidential debate Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., with Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
“We have a vaccine that’s coming, it’s ready,” Trump said. “It’s going to be announced within weeks and is going to be delivered. We have Operation Warp Speed [which means] the military is going to deliver the vaccine.”
When pressed about if the vaccine dispatch was guaranteed to come within the next few weeks, Trump said he believes it will be “distributed very quickly,” but mentioned the possibility of a timeline around the end of the year.
Welker then questioned Biden, asking the former vice president the same question. Biden answered by slamming Trump’s handling of the virus.
“220,000 Americans dead,” Biden said. “Anyone who is responsible for that many deaths should not remain president of United States of America.”
“We are about to go through a dark winter,” Biden added, “and he has no clear plan, and there’s no prospect that there’s going to be a vaccine available for the majority of the American people before the middle of next year.”
Trump countered the argument, saying, “I won’t think we’re going to have a dark winter at all.”
Welker asked Trump to respond to Biden’s claim that the pandemic is far from over, in which Trump responded that the country is “learning to live with it.”
“We can’t lock ourselves up in a basement like Joe does,” Trump said. “He has the ability to lock himself up. I don’t know. He’s obviously made a lot of money someplace. But he has this thing about living in a basement. People can’t do that.”
Welker asked Trump to address previous comments about Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, asking why he called Dr. Fauci “a disaster” earlier this week and who, if not Fauci, is he listening to in regards to coronavirus precautions.
“I’m listening to all of them, including Anthony, I get along very well with Anthony, but he did say ‘do not wear a mask,’” Trump said. “He did say, as you know, this is not going to be a problem. I think he is a Democrat, but that is ok.”
National security
Welker began this section by asking the candidates about the security of the elections after it was revealed Russia and Iran are actively working to influence the election. Biden answered first, stating any country that interferes in American elections “will pay a price.”
“I’ve made it clear that any country, no matter who it is, interferes with American elections will pay a price,” Biden said. “They will pay a price if I’m elected, they are interfering with American sovereignty.”
The former vice president then took aim at Trump, saying the president has not addressed these issues with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump denied these claims, stating, “There has been nobody tougher on Russia than Donald Trump.”
Following this, Trump was asked what he would do to put an end to foreign adversaries during his next term. Trump first claimed Biden received 3.5 million dollars from Russia that “came through Putin.”
According to an AP News fact check, this claim was false. Trump was referring to a recent report from Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who investigated Biden’s son Hunter. Within the report, there is no evidence to suggest Joe Biden received money from Russia President Vladimir Putin.
Trump then raised allegations regarding the recent story involving emails sent from Hunter Biden and former associates.
“I think you owe an explanation to the American people,” Trump said. “Regardless of me, I think you have to clean it up and talk to the American people, and maybe you can do it right now.”
Biden responded by saying he had “not taken a penny” from any foreign source.
“I have not taken a penny from any foreign source at any point in my life,” Biden responded. “He’s talking about me taking money from China? I’ve not taken a penny from any country what-so-ever.”
Biden then criticized Trump’s highly publicized tax returns, asking the president what he has been hiding.
“What’s going on here? Release your tax returns or stop talking about corruption,” Biden said.
Trump responded by declaring that he will soon release his taxes.
“First of all, I called my accountants under audit,” Trump said. “I’m going to release them as soon as we can. I want to do it. And it will show how successful, how great this company is. But much more importantly than that, people were saying $750. I asked them a week ago. I said, what did I pay? They said ‘Sir, you prepaid tens of millions of dollars.’ I prepaid my tax.”
Welker asked Biden about Hunter Biden’s past work in China and for a Ukrainian energy company during Barack Obama’s presidency, questioning if any of these business associations were in any way unethical.
“Nothing was unethical,” Biden said. “My son has not made money from China. The only guy who has made money from China was this guy.”
American families
In the first question about health care in America, Welker raised concerns about the recent plan to overturn the Affordable Care Act, asking Trump what he would do if the 20 million Americans relying on the plan have it taken away.
“Preexisting conditions will always stay,” Trump said. “What I would like to do is a much better health care [that] will always protect people with preexisting [conditions]. I’d like to terminate Obamacare and come up with a brand-new, beautiful health care.”
Biden, who has spoken openly in the past about plans to build on Obamacare, said he wants to pass health care with a public option, and call it “Bidencare.”
“Not one single person with private insurance would lose their insurance under my plan, nor did they under Obamacare, they did not lose their insurance unless they chose they wanted to go to something else,” Biden said.
According to an AP News fact check, this claim was false. AP News reports, “When Obamacare took effect in 2014, several million people lost individual health insurance plans that no longer met minimum standards established by the law. A backlash forced the White House to offer a work-around, but the political damage was done.”
Biden also criticized Trump’s health care plan, reminding the public that the president has yet to unveil it.
“He’s been talking about this for a long time,” Biden said. “He’s never come up with a plan. I guess we’re going to get the pre-existing condition plan the same time we get the infrastructure plan.”
Welker raised a question regarding poverty in America, leading into a discussion about $15 minimum wage. Trump said this minimum wage increase would put companies out of business, to which Biden disagreed, saying it is “simply not true.”
“They deserve a minimum wage of $15 and anything below that puts them in poverty,” Biden said.
Race in America
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the second and final presidential debate Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., with President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Biden responded to Welker’s inquiries about “the talk” many Black and Brown individuals have with their children regarding being targeted based on ethnicity. This includes profiling by police officers. Biden began by stating he believes there is institutional racism in America.
“A black parent, no matter how rich or poor they are, has to teach their child not to wear a hoodie as they cross their street,” Biden said.
The focus shifted to Trump when he was given the same question. The president answered by stating he is the “least racist person in this room.” Biden was quick to address this statement, describing Trump as one of the most racist presidents in modern history.
“Abraham Lincoln here [referring to Trump] is one of the most racist presidents we’ve had in modern history,” Biden said.
Biden then took aim at previous statements given by Trump concerning white supremacist groups, stemming from the previous debate, during which the president avoided condemning the supremacists.
In his 10-second response, Trump questioned why Biden brought up Abraham Lincoln and alluded to doing more for the Black community than any other president since Lincoln.
“I didn’t say I’m Abraham Lincoln. I said not since Abraham Lincoln has anybody done what I’ve done for the Black community,” said Trump.
Climate change
Welker asked Trump and Biden to specify their different visions about ways to combat climate change. She cited previous answers in which Trump claimed environmental regulations have hurt jobs. Biden believes addressing climate change could account for newer jobs in America.
Trump began his answer by saying America has the cleanest air and lowest numbers in carbon emission when compared to other countries.
“We have done an incredible job environmentally. We have the cleanest air, the cleanest water and the best carbon emission standards that we have seen in many, many years,” Trump said.
In Biden’s response to the question, he said Americans have a moral obligation to deal with the crisis.
“We are told by all the leading scientists in the world that we don’t have much time,” Biden said. “We’re going to pass the point of no return within the next 8 to 10 years.”
In reply to Biden’s environmental plan, Trump accused the former vice president of a motive that involves the banning of fracking and the dismantling of the oil industry.
“He was against fracking,” Trump said. “He said it … until he got the nomination, went to Pennsylvania, then he said — but you know what Pennsylvania, he’ll be against it very soon because his party is totally against it.”
Biden, who previously endorsed the Green New Deal, was pressed by Trump regarding whether or not he would close down the oil industry.
“I would transition from the oil industry, yes,” Biden stated.
Leadership
For the final topic of the night, Welker asked the candidates what they would say to Americans during the inaugural address.
In response to the question, Trump mentioned that success is what brings a country together.
“Success is going to bring us together,” Trump said. “We are on the road to success, but I am cutting taxes, and he wants to raise everybody’s taxes.”
In Biden’s statement, he said, if elected, he will represent all people, whether they voted for him or against him.
“I will say, I am an American president, and I represent all of you, whether you voted for me or against me, I am going to make sure you’re represented,” Biden said. “I’m going to give you hope. We’re going to move and we’re going to choose science over fiction.”
Welker wrapped up the debate by thanking the candidates, viewers and Belmont University for hosting the event. She reminded the audience of the Nov. 3 election date and ended the night by saying, “Don’t forget to vote.”
To view election resources and candidate profiles, visit Lee University’s election page.
To look up sample ballots, polling locations and other voter information, visit www.vote.org.
