Democratic nominee Joe Biden lashed out at President Donald Trump during Tuesday night’s first 2020 presidential debate, telling POTUS to “shut up” and calling him a “clown” and a “racist.”
Ironically, Biden also chided Trump for not being “presidential” in the same breath he told the president to “shut up.”
When Biden was being questioned by debate moderator Chris Wallace over whether he would pack the Supreme Court with additional justices if he were to win the election, the former vice president refused to answer and told the president to “shut up” when Trump pressed him.
“Are you gonna pack the court?” Trump asked Biden. “Why won’t you answer that question?”
“I’m not gonna answer the question,” Biden admitted, telling Trump: “Will you shut up, man?”
WATCH:
Biden refuses to answer if he will pack the Supreme Court if elected: "I'm not gonna answer the question…"
"Will you shut up, man?" pic.twitter.com/eocJwy3t5I
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 30, 2020
In another portion of the debate, where Trump was explaining his administration’s crackdown on left-wing critical race theory, Biden flat-out called Trump a “racist.”
“They were teaching people to hate our country,” Trump said, declaring that critical race theory is “racist” in itself.
“Nobody’s done that,” Biden interrupted, “He’s the racist!”
When President Trump tried to respond, debate moderator Chris Wallace chided the president: “Let him finish!”
WATCH:
Joe Biden on President Trump: "He's the racist." #Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/eNaCGhb4cH
— The Hill (@thehill) September 30, 2020
In another portion of the debate, Biden called Trump a “clown” for interrupting him.
“It’s hard to get any word in with this clown,” the former vice president said. “Excuse me, this person.”
Trump again attempted to respond to the personal insult but was shut down by Wallace.
“No, no, no!” Wallace scolded Trump. “Mr. President! Mr. President!”
WATCH:
Former Vice President Biden on President Trump: "It's hard to get any word in with this clown. Excuse me, this person." https://t.co/5Bl4Ob3O2t#Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/y2hXjMXX5r
— ABC News (@ABC) September 30, 2020
Wallace’s seeming intervention to chide Trump when Biden was feeling the heat or leveling insults at POTUS was noted by politicos online.
Even a colleague of Wallace’s, Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, publicly dinged the moderating.
“Why is [Joe Biden] allowed to interrupt? [Donald Trump] is not,” posted the “Fox&Friends” host.
The president also highlighted Wallace’s apparent bias against him, accusing Wallace of debating him instead of moderating:
“You promised to repeal and replace Obamacare but you have never in these four years come up with a plan, a comprehensive plan to replace Obamacare …,” Wallace began before Trump interrupted.
“Of course I have. I got rid of the individual mandate,” Trump said over Wallace as the moderator struggled to get his question out. “That is absolutely a big thing. That was the worst part of Obamacare.”
The two struggled to be heard over the sound of the other until Wallace, exasperated, finally said, “Mr. President, I am the moderator of this debate and I would like you to let me ask my question.”
“Go ahead, Chris,” Trump responded. […]
“Well, first of all, I guess I’m debating you, not him. But that’s okay. Let me just tell you something, there’s nothing symbolic. I’m cutting drug prices, I’m going with favored nations, which no president has the courage to do cause you’re going against big pharma. Drug prices will be coming down 80 or 90 percent,” Trump said.
Related: Chris Wallace Faces Intense Backlash, Including From Colleagues, Over Bias During Debate