5 Bizarre Moments From The Final Trump And Biden US Presidential Debate
After the torturous first debate, and the cancellation of the second head-to-head after the US president contracted coronavirus, Donald Trump and Joe Biden locked horns for the final time before America goes to the polls.
And it wasn’t pretty.
Trump initially adopted a more restrained tone than he did during their first encounter in September, which was marked by his constant interruptions. But it didn’t take long for the lies and incoherence to begin.
While it’s unlikely few in a deeply divided country will agree who “won” – whatever that means – there were some stand-out moments likely to fuel conversations at least in the morning after.
“I am the least racist person in this room.”
Biden accused Trump of being “one of the most racist presidents” in history.
“He pours fuel on every single racist fire,” Biden said. “This guy has a dog whistle as big as a foghorn.”
Trump responded by criticising Biden’s authorship of a 1994 crime bill that increased incarceration of minorities while asserting that he had done more for Black Americans than any president with the “possible” exception of Abraham Lincoln in the 1860s.
Trump later added: “As far as my relationships with all people, I think I have great relationships with all people. I am the least racist person in this room.”
He made the statement to Kristen Welker, the first Black woman to moderate a presidential debate since 1992, as Trump attempted to backpedal on his rhetoric toward Black Americans.
The most memorable part of the debate for me: President Trump said "I'm the least racist person in this room."
Kristen Welker, a black woman, was in the room.#PresidentialDebate2020#Debates2020pic.twitter.com/xf8Qo4QEpO— Eric Cox (@EricCoxTV) October 23, 2020
Did Trump seriously claim he is the “least racist person in the room” to the BLACK FEMALE MODERATOR?!#Debates2020
— Steph Frosch (@ElloSteph) October 23, 2020