Biden and Trump’s First Debate Did Not End Well | The New Yorker

Biden and Trump’s First Debate Did Not End Well

Debates are meant to present contrasts, but at the outset this one delivered only characters.

via The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/biden-and-trumps-first-debate-did-not-end-well

Wallace kept trying to get the President to say that he would play by the normal rules, but each exchange only encouraged Trump to signal that he wouldn’t. A few minutes earlier, Wallace had asked the President about right-wing militia groups. Trump responded, “What do you want me to call them?” The Proud Boys, Biden said, from the other podium, naming a prominent far-right group. Trump said, “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.” Biden flashed a big grin, which covered some of the chill of the moment: Had Trump meant to condemn the right-wing militias or encourage them? The Proud Boys’ chairman, Enrique Tarrio, wrote online, “Standing by sir.”