First presidential debate devolves into name-calling, calls to ‘shut up’
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By Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden faced off in a debate Tuesday that will likely be remembered not for policy issues from the two candidates, but for 90 minutes of interruptions, name-calling and general chaos on stage in Cleveland, Ohio.
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate Moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News listens as President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate former Vice President Joe Biden participate in the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walks off stage at the end of the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate President Donald Trump stands on stage with first lady Melania Trump after the first presidential debate with Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate From left to right, first lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, walk off stage at the conclusion of the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, lean in to talk to moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News at the conclusion of the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden participate in the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland. (Olivier Douliery/Pool via AP)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate President Donald Trump gestures while speaking during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden smiles during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden participate in the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland. (Olivier Douliery/Pool via AP)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden gestures while speaking during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Trump, Biden face off in first presidential debate President Donald Trump makes a points as Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden listens during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)
Trump continually interrupted Biden as he tried to answer questions and it didn’t take long for Biden to grow tired of Trump talking over him.
“Will you shut up, man?” an exasperated Biden said just over 30 minutes into the debate. “It’s hard to get any word in with this clown.”
Early on, moderator Chris Wallace, anchor of “Fox News Sunday,” seemed to lose any control over the debate as the two men went at each other, ignoring both Wallace’s questions and his attempts to drag them back on topic.
On numerous occasions, Wallace pleaded with Trump to follow the rule his campaign agreed to and allow Biden to finish is answers.
“I hate to raise my voice,” Wallace said, “But why should I be different than you?”
The debate covered issues ranging from the COVID-19 virus to race relations in the United States.
At one point, Biden asked Trump to denounce right-wing groups he said caused the death of a woman during a protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.
Trump sidestepped Biden’s request and an additional request from Wallace to do the same.
In turn, Trump reminded Biden of a crime bill he signed in the 1990s.
“You called them superpredators and you’ve called them worse than that,” Trump said of Blacks in America.
Below is a livestream of the debate and live updates from the first debate.
Livestream:
Live Updates
Chris Wallace moderates the first debate DES MOINES, IA - JANUARY 26: Chris Wallace, anchor of Fox News Sunday, will moderate the first presidential debate on Sept. 29. (Photo by Steve Pope/Getty Images/Getty Images)