Biden and Trump Face Off In Final Presidential Debate: Now It’s Up To Voters
Marking the end of an unconventional presidential debate season, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden met on Oct. 22 for their second and final debate of the 2020 campaign. After Trump’s diagnosis of and hospitalization for the novel coronavirus ultimately led to the cancellation of the second debate, Thursday’s face-off was the last opportunity for the candidates to sway undecided voters on a national stage.
President Donald Trump and former Vice-President Pence take part in second and final presidential debate on October 22. Source: Photo Illustration by Emily Stellakis, '24
Moderated by NBC News’ Kristen Welker, the final debate contrasted greatly from their first debate in September, as Welker’s firm approach and new rules imposed by the Commission on Presidential Debates limited interruptions. The use of a mute function in the first two minutes of a candidate’s remarks made for a more civil and orderly debate than the first, but the night was not without interruptions or inflammatory attacks.
The candidates clashed on divisive issues, including the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, American families, national security, race in America, immigration and climate change, while trying to appeal to the minute amount of undecided voters left with less than two weeks left until Election Day. While Trump argued that America under a Biden administration would equal nationwide shutdowns and economic ruin, Biden placed blame on Trump for his handling of the virus, saying "anyone who is responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of the United States of America.”
Trump and Biden sparred over immigration policies, ignited by a recent report that the administration has been unable to find the parents of 545 children who were separated at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2017 and 2018. Critiquing the president for his former policy that separated migrant families at the border, Biden said that Trump’s immigration policies “[violate] every notion of who we are as a nation.” Trump continued to push the argument that it was the Obama administration that has separated families at the border, repeatedly interrupting to challenge, “Who built the cages, Joe?”
In one of the more memorable exchanges of the final debate, Trump argued that he was “the least racist person in [the] room” and compared himself to Abraham Lincoln in terms of his alleged positive impact on the Black community. Biden was quick to counter this claim, asserting that his opponent did not condemn white supremacy and perpetuated racism in the first debate when he told the far-right, white supremacy group Proud Boys, to “stand back and stand by.”
"Abraham Lincoln, here is one of the most racist presidents we've had in modern history,” Biden said of Trump. “He pours fuel on every single racist fire. Every single one.”
The final debate between the presidential candidates was more subdued and traditional than the first debate, which was characterized by name-calling and cross talk. The first debate, which took place just two days before Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, focused on a variety of topics, including the Supreme Court vacancy, pandemic response, the economy, racial injustices, healthcare and mail-in-voting. The issues at hand were largely overshadowed by the chaotic nature of the event. In a moment that made headlines, an exasperated Biden said “Will you shut up, man?" as Trump interrupted to question Biden’s stance on packing the Supreme Court if elected.
Eligible voters who had not yet decided on a candidate had fewer opportunities than in election years prior to see the candidates debate on a national stage. The Commission on Presidential Debates canceled the second debate, initially scheduled for Oct. 15, after the President declined to participate in a virtual debate. Despite concerns regarding the safety of an in-person debate considering the recent diagnosis of the President and many of his top aides, the Trump campaign argued that there was “no medical reason” to cancel the debate and Trump refused to “waste [his] time” by debating virtually.
In place of the originally-scheduled debate between the two candidates, Trump and Biden took part in separate town hall events on Oct. 15, airing simultaneously on different television news outlets. With Trump on NBC from Miami and Biden on ABC from Philadelphia, the dueling town halls offered a stark contrast of their differing political styles and approaches to issues like the coronavirus pandemic. As both candidates vied for the support of undecided voters in the absence of their opponent, they faced questioning regarding their past controversies. NBC’s Savannah Gutherie pressed Trump on his past refusal to denounce white supremacy at the first debate. Biden was questioned by an audience member regarding his controversial statement that if Black Americans don't support him, "you ain't Black.”
National polls are currently showing Biden at roughly 52% and Trump at 43%, with only a small number of voters still undecided as the end of the voting period looms. Though post-debate polls reveal that a majority of voters believe Biden won the first and final debates, studies have shown that the televised debates have little impact on voters since few rely solely on these debates to make their decision.
Now that the debates have concluded and early voting has begun in numerous states, it is time for citizens to cast their vote after what has been an unusual presidential campaign season.