First Presidential Debate 2020 Live Updates: Biden says he's 'totally opposed' to defunding the police
President Donald Trump and former Vice President, the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, have taken the stage for the first 2020 presidential debate in Cleveland. The debate is being moderated by 'Fox News Sunday' host Chris Wallace. The debate is set to run for 90 minutes and will be broken up into six 15-minutes segments. The topics have been selected by Wallace, which include Trump and Biden's records, the Supreme Court, Covid-19, the economy, race and violence in our cities along with the integrity of the election.
The debate saw the two candidates engaging in heated arguments about the new Supreme Court nominee, healthcare and the coronavirus pandemic.
Former vice president slammed Trump for accusing him of supporting defending the police in an effort to curb police brutality. Biden said that he supports providing more assistance for police officers and reintroducing "community policing." "I'm totally opposed to defunding the police officers," Biden said. "They need more assistance."
Trump says he ended racial sensitivity training because it espouses 'sick ideas'
When asked by moderator Chris Wallace why Trump ended the racial sensitivity trainings in his administration and the federal government in the wake of a racial awakening in the country, the leader said: "I ended it because it's racist," adding that training on issues like critical race theory espoused "sick ideas."
"Really they were teaching people to hate our country," Trump added. Biden, during his chance to respond, called him "racist.""The fact is that there is racial insensitivity, people have to be made aware of what other people feel like," Biden said, adding the country can "take this on and we can defeat racism."
Trump claims he has paid 'millions of dollars' in income tax
Trump claims he has paid "millions of dollars" in income taxThe Republican was asked about a report in the New York Times by moderator Chris Wallace, questioning Trump if it was true that he had only paid $750 in income tax in 2017, the year he assumed the White House. "I paid millions of dollars in taxes. Millions of dollars in income tax," Mr. Trump said refusing to confirm or deny Wallace's questioning. When Biden asked him to release his tax returns, Trump insisted — as he did during his 2016 election —that his tax returns were currently under audit. "As soon as it's finished, you'll see it," Trump responded.
Trump mocks Biden for wearing face masks: 'Biggest mask I've ever seen'
When asked about the candidates' stance on face masks, particularly why Trump is not seen wearing a mask in public, the president said: "When needed, I wear masks," as he pulled out his own mask as proof. Trump also mocked Biden for wearing masks at every public appearance, saying that Biden "shows up with the biggest mask I've seen."
Biden to Trump: 'Will you shut up, man?'
Trump and Biden got into their first spat of the night minutes into the debate. As the pair debated on the Supreme Court, Biden appeared exasperated as he told the president to "shut up" after the Republican continued interjecting him. "Will you shut up, man?" the former vice president said. Biden, however, declined to mention whether he would support packing the court, meaning adding more justices to the current bench of nine.
Biden: 'I am the Democratic Party right now'
As the pair continued to talk about the Affordable Care Act, the president took aim at Biden over the number of military members who had died when the latter was the vice president. Trump also claimed Biden didn't want him to "ban China, which was heavily infected" in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. The former vice president, however, insisted that he isn't the far-left socialist that Trump is making him out to be. "My party is me. I am the Democratic Party right now," Biden said. "The platform of the Democratic Party is what I approved."
Trump says 'Elections have consequences' on Supreme Court
Wallace's first debate question was about Trump's nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacant Supreme Court seat with Biden's stance on how the seat left by late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's demise should not be filled before the 2020 election. Trump argued that he had the right to fill the seat because his party "won the election" while Biden argued that fresh elections have already begun.
Trump said: "We won the election. Elections have consequences. We have the Senate, we have the White House, and we have a phenomenal nominee. I have a lot of time after the election, as you know."
While Biden argued that the fresh election process had already been initiated, with millions across the country already casting their votes early. "The American people have a right to have a say in who the Supreme Court nominee is," Biden said. "They're not going to get that chance now because we're in the middle of the election already. We should wait and see what the outcome of this election is," Biden added, saying that he was "not opposed to the justice" as a person. He raised concerns that she might rule to overturn the Affordable Care Act. It's just not appropriate to do this before the election."
Trump and Biden begin the debate
President Trump and Biden arrived at the Samson Pavillion at around 8.30 pm for the country's first 2020 presidential debate between the two contenders. The debate is set to begin at 9 pm. The two candidates are not set to give their opening statement and also will not shake hands considering the novel coronavirus precautions.