I know it's a reflection of their campaign theme, too, but Trump is very hopeful and optimistic about ability of Americans to conquer Coronavirus and Biden predicts a "dark winter" of discontent and horror.
Biden, who criticized Trump for shutting down border and called it xenophobic, now says that Trump waited too long to do it (US was first major country to do so)
Trump says "we're learning to live with virus" but not everyone has made as much money as the Bidens and can just hide in basements.
Biden says we're not learning to live with virus but "we're learning to die with it" "Learning to live with it? Come on. We're dying from it." Biden says virus is horrific and dangerous and country must remain closed down for long term.
Biden hitting Trump hard for optimism. Trump reminds that Biden and Pelosi said it was xenophobic to shut down travel from and now says he waited too long.
Biden says he will shut down virus, not country, but upon questioning says he will not rule out more shutdowns. Blames Trump for the Chinese Coronavirus and the global pandemic.
Trump points out that Democratic shutdowns are hurting the economies of states. Trump says schools should open. Kristen Welker suggests school openings are responsible for spread of Coronavirus. Trump points out downsides of banning children from schools, including despair.
Trump coming out strong against Biden's plan for more shutdowns, distancing, plexiglass, etc. Trump says we need to focus more on protecting the vulnerable and opening up things for everyone else.
Genuinely interesting exchange that showed a true difference between Trump's can-do attitude about the need for Americans to learn to live and not be shut down and Biden's belief that COVID-19 will require permanent changes.
Biden brings up laptop issue by mentioning Guiliani. Trump notes that Biden family got $3.5M from Moscow mayor's wife. "The kind of money you were raking in, you and your family. It should have never happened. I think you own an explanation to the American people."
"Regardless of me, I think you have to clean it up and tell the American people." Biden says he has never taken a penny from any foreign source in his life (recent emails suggest his family held foreign money on his behalf).
"I don't make money from China. You do. I don't make money from Ukraine. You do. I don't make money from Russia. You do." Trump says, pointing out that Biden gets 10%, according to emails from business partner. Welker tries to change subject and ask about taxes.
Trump points out that nobody has had as much scrutiny of his financial dealings and otherwise as he has.
Welker asks Biden about his son's business dealings. Biden says "nothing was unethical" about his son's dealings. Biden claims his son didn't make money from China. This would contradict government documents that a Senate committee released recently.
Biden responds to Trump saying that Hunter Biden made major money in Ukraine by sitting on the board of an energy concern despite having zero experience in the area by saying everyone agrees Hunter never did anything inappropriate.
Joe Biden seems to have moved from his very friendly posture toward China to adopt Trump's stance. Really amazing how much Trump has changed the entire conversation on China in the last four years.
Trump tries to bring up an email that the media refuse to cover, in order to protect Biden, and Welker cuts him off. Biden says that mentioning his family's business in China is "malarkey" and that no one cares about it.
Welker is interrupting way too much (just let the conversation happen more naturally!) but otherwise doing fairly well at this point in the debate.
Trump talks about trying to avoid war on the Korean peninsula. Biden is asked about North Korea and I'm not quite sure what he's trying to say in response. Calls Kim Jong Un a "thug" repeatedly.
"Having a good relationship with leaders of other countries is a good thing." Biden says we had a good relationship with Hitler before he invaded Europe. "Come on." Welker needs to stop interrupting when the debate breaks out.
Welker adopts the Democrat talking point that "health care" is at the center of the Amy Coney Barrett confirmation battle. It does get annoying how journalists always adopt Democrat assumptions in their questions.
Joe Biden chuckles when Trump says Biden was in government for "47 years" and only left government four years ago.
A friend says of Biden "he's starting to do that thing where he can't name names or specific objects and starts just saying 'the thing' and 'the whatsit' and 'the who-now'." I'm hearing "come on man," and "malarkey" a lot.
When Biden said Trump should push Republicans harder to get a deal with Pelosi, Welker asks Biden why he's not pushing Democrats to do the same. (I'm actually shocked she's asking something this challenging of Biden) His response ends: "come on."
Biden started out by looking directly at the audience, which is a good trick. A friend notes that Trump is starting to look directly at the audience in the manner of Jim from the Office, as in "can you believe this guy"? and it is very effective.
On topic of children who are brought to US buy coyotes and smugglers and placed in holding facilities, Trump reminds that Obama-Biden "built the cages" to hold them. "Who built the cages, Joe?" Trump asks. Biden refuses to respond.
Trump says Biden had eight years to work on immigration and didn't. Biden seems to suggest with pride he would do little or nothing to control US borders.
Trump and Biden asked about race issues. Trump says nobody has done more for the African American community than he has. Mentions criminal justice reform, prison reform, opportunity zones (with a shoutout to GOP Sen. Tim Scott), historically black colleges and universities.
When Biden talks about his plans for a presidency, Trump asks why he never did anything when he was in power. Trump says he ran because he thought they did a bad job.
Biden says that 50 former intelligence folks say the laptop is a Russian disinformation plot. DNI came out and confirmed that it is not. Trump says "You mean now the laptop is another 'Russia Russia Russia' hoax? You have got to be kidding."
Biden just called Trump Abraham Lincoln and called the Proud Boys the Poor Boys. I think it might be time to call it a night for him.
Biden says various aspects of crime legislation he supported were a mistake. "Why didn't you do it in the 8 years (you were VP) a short time ago?" Trump asks. Says "you're all talk and no action."
Welker asks about climate change, a topic covered ad nauseum in previous debates. Hardly any questions on foreign policy at *any* debate, despite it being of massive importance to Americans and being an area of major disagreement.
When Trump brought up Biden's opposition to fracking earlier, Welker cut him off and said she would ask Biden about it later but she hasn't yet, has she?
Trump brings up fracking, she interrupts and asks Biden if he'll ban fracking. He says no and she tries to move on. Trump insists on responding. Biden says, falsely, he only opposed fracking on federal land. Roll the tape.
Trump asks Biden if he would shut down oil industry and Biden admits he does have a plan to do that -- a transition to something else.
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