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Presidential Debate 2020: Was Trump being racist when he said China and India's air was ‘filthy’? Stats show it's a fact

‘Look at China. How filthy it is. Look at Russia, look at India. It’s filthy. The air is filthy,’ Trump said

The second and final debate between President Donald Trump and former vice-president Joe Biden on Thursday, October 22, in Tennessee had both leaders heralding varied visions on the topic of climate change. Climate change was one of the pressing issues in the debate that also had other matters on discussions like Covid-19, race, and national security. 

In the debate, Biden and Trump offered extremely different viewpoints on the environmental issue with the former saying it is “an existential threat to humanity” and POTUS touting his decision to remove the United States from a global climate pact.

“I do love the environment, but what I want is the cleanest, crystal-clear water, the cleanest air,” Trump said. He also said that the economy would be compromised by committing to stricter global standards. “But here’s what we can’t do. Look at China. How filthy it is. Look at Russia, look at India. It’s filthy. The air is filthy,” POTUS said. “The Paris accord. I took us out because we were going to have to spend trillions of dollars and we were treated very unfairly … It would have destroyed our businesses.”

Biden, who was the next to speak, stated, “Global warming is an existential threat to humanity. We have a moral obligation to deal with it.” The former VP said targeting Trump’s actions on climate change, “We’re going to pass the point of no return with the next eight, 10 years. Four more years of this man, eliminating all the regulations that were put in by us to clean up the climate … will put us in a position where we are going to be in real trouble.”

Biden, who has vouched to join the Paris climate accord, said his plans would generate new jobs and ensure the clean-energy industry. “The whole idea of what this is all going to do, it’s going to create millions of jobs and it’s going to clean the environment. Our health, and our jobs, are at stake.”

Earlier in September 2020, Trump justified his regime's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change. He called it a "disaster," while his Democratic challenger Joe Biden vowed to rejoin the historic accord if voted to power. Many reports indicate that re-electing Trump would put would put America, and possibly other countries, on a path which deviates from controlling emissions goal. This is reportedly said as POTUS repealed the Obama administration’s signature climate policy, the Clean Power Plan. Trump also rolled back a host of other environmental rules and then pulled out from Paris Agreement.

Are India and China unclean?

While Trump made the claims on filthiness in India and China, several reports indicate that the two Asian powers are not clean. As per a BBC report, India's fight against the pandemic is becoming difficult due to the high level of air pollution. PM2.5 levels in India's capital  Delhi have averaged around 180-300 micrograms per cubic meter in recent weeks. This is 12 times higher than the WHO's safe limits, as per BBC. 

On the other front, in the case of China, the Asian giant is also facing a toll on the environment due to rapid industrial development. It has been seeing high particulate matter concentrations that exceed WHO recommended levels. China Power reported that the city of Chengdu experienced an average PM2.5 concentration of 49 μg/m3 in 2019 which is nearly five times higher than the WHO guidelines recommend. Moreover, studies found that unhealthy levels of PM2.5 led to roughly 852,000 premature deaths in China in 2017. 
 
No sooner than the two candidates showed dramatically varied stands on climate change, the Internet started buzzing with reactions. Many felt Trump's remarks will impact his relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with whom he has shared a camaraderie over promotional events like Howdy Modi and Namaste Trump. Others mocked Trump for the ‘masterstroke’ in foreign policy. Some felt Trump was being racist with his remarks.

A user mocked Trump, “‘India is filthy’ Wow. Wonderful. Great way to win over Indian Americans, Trump.Genius.” A user said against Trump, “What better way to prove you’re the least racist person in the room than by calling the entire continent of Asia filthy #Debates2020.” A user commented on foreign relations, “POTUS called India a filthy nation. Such a foreign policy masterstroke.”

A user wrote, “Trump: India is filthy. Modi :#Debates2020.” A user ridiculed promotional events between US and India for their leaders, “Will the #Namaste Trump #HowdyModi lot care to comment?” An enraged user wrote, “Trump just called my country filthy and I just wanna let him know that nothing is more filthy than his own character.” A user wrote, "How does #Trump manage to make a racist statement even on #climate ?"