Trump and Biden Talk Catholic SCOTUS Pick, COVID, Racism at Contentious First Presidential Debate

Tags: Currents Amy Coney Barrett, Biden, Crux, Donald Trump, Election, Elections, Elections 2020, Faith, World News

By Emily Drooby

Contentious is the only way to describe Sept. 29’s debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.

The Tuesday night debate started off seemingly strong as the candidates discussed Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.

Biden argued that it’s too close to an election to choose, while Trump argued it’s that his right.

“I’m not opposing the justice, she seems like a very fine person,” said Biden of Barrett. “We should wait and see what the outcome of this election is,” he added.

“We won the election, and therefore we have the right to choose her,” Trump.

Barrett is a conservative, pro-life Catholic.

From there, the debate started to unravel. It became a series of name-calling and rude exchanges.

Biden called the President a “clown” and further called him “the worst president we have ever had.”

Then, Trump insulted Biden’s intelligence, saying, “He graduated either the lowest or almost the lowest in your class. Don’t ever use the word ‘smart’ with me, don’t ever use the word. Because you know what, there is nothing smart about you Joe.”

In addition to the Supreme Court pick, moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News attempted to steer the candidates through five additional topics; their records, COVID-19, the economy, election integrity, and race and violence.

Speaking during the race and violence section, Biden said, “This is a president who has used everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred, racist division.”

Trump responded with, “We believe in Law and Order, but you don’t.”

Trump also disputed recent claims that he paid little to no income tax. He claimed he has paid “millions of dollars in taxes and millions of dollars in income taxes.”

Wallace had trouble keeping order in the debate —  the issues seemed overshadowed by the hostile and chaotic tone.

The next debate is scheduled for October 15 in Salt Lake City, Utah.