US debate timeline: Trump and Biden are combative in first match | 2020-10-01 13:53:53 (Visits: 368 Times) |  | | photo:US President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden participate in their first 2020 presidential campaign debate held on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, September 29, 2020. [Morry Gash/Pool via REUTERS]
photo:First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, walk off stage at the conclusion of the first presidential debate September 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Julio Cortez/AP Photo]
By Steve Chaggaris, William Roberts, Alan Schroeder 30 Sep 2020 Trump,Biden met for the first of three presidential debates.chris wallace of Fox News moderated the debate from Cleveland, Ohio.the topics Wallace discussed with the candidates are the Trump and Biden records, the Supreme Court, COVID-19,the economy, race and violence in US cities and the integrity of the election.Mike Pence and Kamala Harris will also meet for one debate on October 7.The first debate between US President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden was tense from the beginning. And it quickly devolved into a chaotic litany of criticisms and a cascade of insults with each interrupting the other, though moderator Chris Wallace said Trump was more disruptive.The two candidates traded barbs about the coronavirus response, health care, the economy, among other topics while weaving in references to their opponent’s job performance and even dragging their families into the fight.Here’s our play-by-play commentary of the night’s events:22:55 ET – Post-debate economic analysis Al Jazeera Digital Managing Business Editor Patricia Sabga:The subject of jobs was raised several times during tonight’s debate. Notably, Biden pointed out that more jobs were created during the last three years of former President Barack Obama’s presidency than during Trump’s first three years in office. This is true, but it is important to bear in mind that the unemployment rate continued to trend down under Trump to hover near a 50-year low before COVID-19 struck.What matters more than what has passed is where the jobs market stands now. The economy has recovered roughly half of the 22 million jobs lost in March and April when coronavirus lockdowns swept the nation. The unemployment rate has come down from a pandemic peak of 14.7 in April to 8.4 in August.That is an impressive comeback but well short of a V-shaped recovery Trump has touted. And there are signs that the economic recovery is starting to plateau, signalling there is a long road back to pre-pandemic strength. Keep in mind that the unemployment rate in February before lockdowns – was 3.5 percent.Millions of Americans are unemployed right now, wondering if they have lost their jobs for good or whether they can find a new one. For struggling Americans who just want to support themselves and their families, tonight’s debate offered little by way of concrete policies either Trump or Biden would take to keep moving the jobs market forward.22:35 ET – Trump doesn’t condemn white supremacists,Trump was asked whether he would condemn white supremacists and militia groups and instead of directly answering the question, Trump instead blamed the months of violence in US cities on “left-wing groups.”“Are you willing tonight to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence or the number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha, and as we’ve seen in Portland?” moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump.“I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right,” Trump responded. “I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace.”“Then do it sir,” Wallace urged Trump before his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, chimed in. “Do it, do it. Say it,” said Biden.Trump shot back, “You want to call them. What do you want to call them? Give me a name.” Biden said, “Proud Boys,” referring to a right-wing group.22:32 ET – Wallace asks about post-election peace Wallace asked both candidates if they would urge their supporters to remain calm and not take to the streets if the election is close and counting continues. Trump said he was urging his supporters to be vigilant about the actual voting on election day. “I am urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully,” Trump said. Biden said Trump “has no idea what he’s talking about”. “Once the winner is declared after all the ballots are counted, that will be the end..............
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