Trump declined to say whether he took the COVID-19 test before the first discussion with Biden

NEW YORK – US President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden changed their second debate Thursday night through televised town halls, showcasing striking differences in nature, views about racial justice and policies related to the epidemic. Changed the country.

Trump has defended his administration’s administration of the coronavirus, which has claimed 215,000 American lives, and escaped when pressed on whether he took the necessary COVID – 19 test before his first discussion with Biden. Angrily and fighting, he refused to denounce the QAnon conspiracy group – and testified only against white supremacists.

The President also acknowledged that he was in debt and opened up the possibility of some of it owed to a foreign bank. He emphasized that the letter was not a signal of a formal antitrust inquiry into Russia, but rather a signal of a formal antitrust inquiry into the allegations.

Biden, who appeared about 1,200 miles away, condemned the White House’s management of the virus, saying it was wrong to close an epidemic response office set up by the Obama administration. Although at times obscure, he acknowledged that it was a mistake to support the 1994 criminal bill, which led to a black prison sentence and suggested that he would clarify his position on expanding the Supreme Court if Trump nominee sat on the bench before Election Day.

Less than two weeks after the COVID-19 diagnosis, Trump responded directly on the day of the Sept. 29 debate by saying, “Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.” Debate rules require that every candidate, using the system of honor, test the negative before the Cleveland event, but Trump spoke in circles when asked when he last tested the negative.

Two days later his positive test created an odd scenario on Thursday, which saw many spectators lose sight of candidates at once 19 days before election day. As another propaganda ritual was changed by the pandemic that rewrote the rules of society, this moment seemed appropriate for one race.

Presidential opponents have taken questions on different networks in different cities: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia. Trump initially withdrew the president’s face-off plans after debate organizers said it would actually happen after his COVID-19 confirmation.

After the couple held a chaotic and combative first discussion late last month, the two candidates gave town halls a different look to present themselves to voters. The difference in the men’s tone was immediate and striking.

Trump Trump. He was loud and arguing, fighting with the host, Savannah Guthrie, complaining about questioning – and finally saying that he would respect the fair election results for the first time, but only flirting after an extraordinary amount of suspicion.

“And then they said, ‘Do you agree to a peaceful transfer?'” And the answer was, “Yes, I do.” But I want it to be an honest election, and it will happen to everyone else. “

He tried again to reveal from the New York Times investigation that he owed more than $ 400 million and pointed out that reports that he had not paid low or federal income taxes for many years over the past two decades were false. He insisted that Americans should not be afraid of his debt and that he had repeatedly insisted that it was “underestimated”.

“This is a very small percentage of my net worth,” Trump said of his reported debt. But he left the possibility of his debt coming to some foreign bank. “No, I’m not indebted to Russia. I’m very, very small, it’s called mortgages.”

Meanwhile, Biden took a very different, smoother, approach to audience questions. The former vice president, speaking a stutter, spoke a little stuttering at the beginning of the program and at one point closed his eyes and slowed down his response to explain his words clearly. At some point his answers dropped.

Wearing a blue suit and holding a white cloth mask in one hand, the Democratic nominee also brought a small card of notes to the stage, alluding to it, promising to withdraw tax cuts for affluent Americans. He said it would save him from doing so, when he approached his notes, saying, “Look at me … billion 92 billion.”

Biden vowed to say before election day whether he would support the Democrats winning the presidency, the Senate and expanding the number of judges in the Supreme Court if the House convenes after November.

He declined to answer a question for the week but went further on Thursday night. He expands the court by saying “I’m not a fan yet”, but his final decision to the Supreme Court will depend on how Amy Connie Barrett’s certification is handled and “how quickly they rush it”.

Biden also blew up Trump’s foreign policy, declaring that “America first” “isolated America” ​​and “this president embraced all the thugs in the world.” He introspected when asked what he would say if he lost.

“I can say that I did not do a good job, that I was the worst candidate,” Biden said. “But I think, I hope you don’t say we’m racially, ethnically and religiously different. The president wants to be like us.”

Biden said he plans to take part in the debate next week, but will ask Trump to test the Kovid-19 before he arrives. Biden said it was “just a courtesy” to everyone around him, including non-candidates like camera operators.

The two men are due to occupy the same space for a second and final discussion in Nashville next week. But the cancellation of the debate on Thursday still resonated with both campaigns.

Trump and Biden fought in Cleveland on September 29, defined by the president’s constantly hectering his opponent, sending his support low and by its position on the calendar: two days before Trump announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Trump was hospitalized for three days, after which he recovered at the White House, and the Debate Commission moved to remote control their second debate – which the President immediately rejected.

Lemir from New York reported. Associated Press Authors Bill Borough Additional Reporting on Wilmington, Delaware, and JK Miller and Alexandra Jaffrey in Washington.