US Presidential Debate 2020 Live Stream: Trump clashes with Biden Kovid as faceoff begins

Article content continued

Before the debate began, Trump’s campaign signaled that he would attack the 77 – year – old Biden, who had failed to achieve much in public service for nearly half a century, and accused the 74, Biden family of corrupt practices.

Trump invited Biden’s son Hunter’s former business associate Tony Bobulinski as his guest, citing evidence of business ties between the Biden family and the Chinese state – owned company. He assisted in the investigation of the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee, which said last month that no evidence had been found that Joe Biden had had an undue influence on American policy.

‘DESPERATE, PATHETIC FARCE’

In a statement, Biden’s spokesman, Andrew Bates, called Bobulinski’s presence a “desperate, pathetic farce.”

Trump has repeatedly accused Joe and Hunter Biden of unethical practices in China and Ukraine. No evidence has been substantiated in support of the corruption allegations and Biden called them false and defamatory.

Trump’s attempt to unravel the dust on Hunter Biden’s Ukraine trade relations has led to the president’s impeachment.

Trump and his children have been at odds over their own interests since entering the White House in 2017, mostly in the family real estate and hotel businesses in the United States and abroad.

The surprise guest on Thursday recalled Trump’s discussion with rival Hillary Clinton in 2016, in which she invited women who had accused her husband, former President Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct. Trump has faced similar allegations, which he has denied.