Here are some highlights, from the first U.S. 2020 presidential debate on Tuesday between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden ahead of the Nov. 3 election:
SUPREME COURT
Trump, asked about whether Judge Amy Coney Barrett should be nominated to the Supreme Court before the election: “We won the election. Elections have consequences.
“We have the Senate and we have the White House and we have a phenomenal nominee respected by all.
“… I think that she (Barrett) will be outstanding. She will be as good as anybody who has ever served on that court. We won the election and therefore we had the right to choose her.”
Biden: “We should wait, we should wait and see what the outcome of this election is.”
Pivoting to the Affordable Care Act, Biden said: “I’m not opposed to the justice. She seems like a very fine person. But she’s written … that she thinks the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. The president’s made it clear he wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. He’s been running on that.”
Trump interjected: “As far as a say is concerned, the American people have already had their say. … I’m not elected for 3-1/2 years.”
Responded Biden: “He’s elected until the next election. … The election’s already started.”
HEALTHCARE
Biden, told by Trump that he had adopted former Democratic presidential rival Bernie Sanders’ “socialized medicine” proposals: “Everybody here knows he’s a liar. … You picked the wrong guy on the wrong night at the wrong time.”
“… Folks, do you have any idea what this clown’s doing? I tell you what, he is not for anybody needing healthcare.”
After Trump explained his health proposal, Biden said: “He has no plan for healthcare. … The fact is this man has no idea what he’s talking about.”
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Biden to Trump: “You should get out of your bunker and get out of the sand trap and … the golf course and go in the Oval Office and (put) together Democrats and Republicans, and fund what needs to be done now to save lives.”
Trump to Biden: “You didn’t think we should’ve closed our country (to China) because you thought it was terrible.”
“… We’ve done a great job. But I tell you, Joe, you could never have done the job we’ve done. You don’t have it in your blood.”
Trump on Biden’s proposed approach to developing coronavirus vaccines: “People like this would rather make it political than save lives.”
Biden: “Guess what, a lot of people died, and a lot more (are) going to die unless he gets a lot smarter a lot quicker.”
Responded Trump: “There’s nothing smart about you, Joe.
Biden on Trump’s mask policy: “He’s a fool on this.”
RACE RELATIONS
Biden, speaking of Trump: “This is a president who has used everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred, racist division.”
Trump to Biden, citing Biden’s support for the 1994 crime bill: “You’ve treated the Black community about as bad as anybody in this country.”
Biden: “Yes, there’s a systemic injustice in this country in education and work and in law enforcement, and the way in which it is enforced.”
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND URBAN UNREST
Trump: “The top 10 cities and just about the top 40 cities are run by Democrats in many cases, radical left, and they’ve got you wrapped around their finger, Joe, to a point where you don’t want to say anything about law and order. And I’ll tell you what the people of this country want and demand law and order, and you’re afraid to even say it.”
Biden said Trump had done nothing to calm down the protests. “He just pours gasoline on the fire.”
Responding to Trump attacking him on the suburbs, Biden said: “He wouldn’t know a suburb unless he took a wrong turn. I know suburbs.”
Trump to Biden: “Name one law enforcement group that has come out and supported you. One. Think. We have time.”
Biden: “Under this president, we’ve become weaker, sicker, more divided and more violent.”
INTERRUPTIONS
At one point, while being interrupted by Trump, Biden said: “Will you shut up, man. This is so unpresidential. … Keep yapping, man.”
Wallace to Trump: “I think the country would be better served if we allowed both people to speak with fewer interruptions. I’m appealing to you sir to do that.”
Trump, referring to Biden, responded: “And him, too.”
Wallace: “Well, frankly you’ve been doing more interrupting.”
