Second Round of Trump-Biden Electoral Duel; America and the Coronavirus Crisis

The second confrontation between the two candidates of the American elections was held apart from each other. Trump and Biden answered citizens’ questions in separate programs. Biden was more aggressive in this round and questioned the president’s coronavirus policy.

The second round of the electoral confrontation between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, which was supposed to be held Thursday evening (October 15), did not take place; instead, the two main candidates of the American presidential election appeared simultaneously on separate television networks and answered citizens’ questions.

Trump, at the beginning of his remarks on NBC television network in Miami, distanced himself from far-right extremists, but at the same time strongly attacked the left. He claimed that he has been condemning right-wingers for years, but he also attacked the left, the leftists who, according to him, “are burning our cities.”

When asked about his position on supporters of the conspiracy theory “QAnon,” Trump said he doesn’t know much about them but agrees with some of their views.

Trump acknowledged that he has debts, but the amount is not high and is much less than his total assets. Earlier, “The New York Times” had reported that the president owes about $421 million.

Trump, who initially had no intention of disclosing the amount of his debt, eventually spoke of $400 million. He then emphasized that he does not think he has debts outside of America.

Attack on “Trump’s Incompetence”

Joe Biden, the Democratic Party candidate who appeared on ABC channel, spoke with greater calm and more aggressive rhetoric. The beginning of his remarks was an attack on Trump’s irresponsible policy regarding the coronavirus pandemic. He said more than 210,000 people in America have died from the coronavirus “and what is he doing? Nothing.”

Biden said that the president should be a role model for his people, and when Trump avoids wearing a mask or mocks people wearing masks, people conclude that mask-wearing is not necessary.

Biden strongly criticized Trump’s environmental, judicial, and foreign policies, saying among other things that he intends to end financial support for fossil fuels and support the development of renewable and clean energies.

Biden “somewhat, but not greatly” approved Trump’s performance in resolving international conflicts. He criticized Trump for withdrawing from almost all international organizations and is constantly ridiculed at the United Nations forum.

Kamala Harris, Biden’s vice-presidential running mate in the presidential election, has canceled all her campaign programs. She announced in a tweet that two people she had been in contact with tested positive for COVID-19 and she does not see fit to participate in public events. She emphasized that she had been tested for coronavirus twice during the week and both tests were negative.

Trump and Biden are scheduled to participate in another televised duel next week before the November 3 elections.

In many polls, Trump is behind Biden by up to ten percentage points. In important states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Trump has also fallen behind the Democratic Party candidate.

Source: DW