Major takeaways from presidential town halls

With President Trump’s recent COVID-19 diagnosis, Thursday’s Town Halls were supposed to be held online in a debate format between him and Biden. Trump’s refusal to do so resulted in two separate meetings, both at the same time and day, forcing nonpartisan voters to choose between the events (which disrupts the very purpose of a Town Hall).

Trump held his Town Hall at an outdoor stage in Miami where, although he and NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie sat socially distanced, neither wore masks. Biden sat indoors in Philadelphia, masked during his discussion with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. It was clear that Trump’s demeanor was frantic, defensive, and indignant as opposed to Biden’s calm, cool, and collected disposition.

With the tone and setting set, let’s dive into the key takeaways of each Town Hall.

Coronavirus

• Trump inaccurately states that the Center for Disease Control “came out with a statement that 85 percent of people who wear masks catch it.” 
• Trump would not specify how often he is tested for COVID-19 and he would not say if he was tested the day of the presidential debate.
  
  
• Trump says that coronavirus vaccines are “coming soon and we’re coming around the corner.”
• Biden announced that he would take a coronavirus vaccine if and only if the scientific community approves it.
• Biden pushes to make mask-wearing and coronavirus vaccines mandatory.
• Biden believes that the Trump Administration may push for a vaccine solely for political purposes.

1994 Crime Bill: Biden’s Signature Legislation

• Biden admits that parts of the law were a mistake.
• Biden explains that racial justice issues in America “have changed drastically” and that while the bill made sense at the time, it is no longer suitable to the current world.
• Biden clarifies that while he does not believe in defunding the police, he does think that more training is necessary to help officers de-escalate situations.

White Supremacy and QAnon

• Trump officially states that he denounces White supremacy.
• Trump, when asked directly if he will disavow the QAnon conspiracy theory, responds with, “I just don’t know about QAnon. I do know they are very much against pedophilia, they fight it very hard.”
• Trump seems to believe that retweeting something on Twitter does not announce his support for the tweet. He retweeted a bin Laden conspiracy theory just to “put it out there.”

The African American community

• Trump informed the world that he “has done more for the African American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln.”
• Biden was asked about the comment he made last May: “If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't Black.” Biden acknowledged that his words were brash and continued to talk about the importance of all voters and their ability to make a difference. 

Taxes

• Trump all but confirms that he owes around $400,000,00 to creditors.
• Trump repeatedly states how “very, very badly” the IRS treats him.
• Biden clarifies that his promise to end the tax cuts Trump implemented is directed just at wealthy citizens and not those who are middle class.

The Supreme Court

• Trump evaded giving his opinion on the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade if Amy Coney Barrett is appointed as a Supreme Court justice.
• When asked about the hypocrisy of the Senate’s decision to begin the process of appointing a new Supreme Court justice, Trump unknowingly repeated the same 2016 argument of many democrats: a president serves “for four years, not for three years.”

• Biden said he would consider adding Supreme Court justices after the Senate’s vote on Amy Coney Barrett and would announce his decision before Election Day.
• Biden does not believe Amy Coney Barrett “laid out much of a judicial philosophy in terms of the basis in which she thinks” during her hearings. 

Fracking and the environment

• Biden stated that he does not want to ban fracking.
• Biden proposes permits that regulate fracking.
• Biden reiterates that he does not support the Green New Deal.
• Biden has a $2 trillion plan that supports clean energy as well as eliminating emissions from the power sector within the next 15 years.

Faye turcotte

Faye is a high school sophomore dedicated to covering the controversial 2020 Presidential Election.