As Biden and Trump debate dates get set, a look back at their raucous past
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on Wednesday agreed to participate in two pre-Election Day campaign debates. The first will be hosted by CNN on June 27, and the second will be hosted by ABC on September 10.
During the 2020 presidential elections, the candidates agreed to three presidential debates. However, the second debate was canceled due to Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis and refusal to participate remotely instead of in person.
But what happened the last time both Biden and Trump shared the debate stage? Here’s a compilation of memorable moments, quips and snafu’s
More: Biden and Trump agree to two televised debates, bucking commission
First 2020 Presidential Debate:
The first presidential debate of 2020 between Biden and Trump was marked by heated exchanges, pointed accusations and a stark departure from democratic norms. Key topics included healthcare, Covid-19, the economy and Supreme Court.
Hosted on September 29th by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, the debate ignited with a fiery clash over healthcare. Biden, visibly exasperated by Trump's persistent interruptions, famously snapped, "Will you shut up, man? This is so unpresidential." The contentious atmosphere persisted as healthcare took the forefront, Trump accusing Biden of socialist tendencies while Biden defended his plan to expand Obamacare while safeguarding private insurance options.
Yet, it was Trump's response, or lack thereof, to condemning white supremacist groups that captured significant attention. Initially agreeing with Wallace, Trump later equivocated, shifting blame to leftist groups for violence and telling the far-right Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by."
Finally, Trump's stunning declaration of refusing to commit to accepting the election results if he were to lose sent shockwaves throughout the political spectrum. “This is not going to end well. This is going to be a fraud like you’ve never seen," Trump said.
More: OnPolitics: Biden and Trump agree to two televised debates
Second 2020 Presidential Debate:
In the final 2020 presidential debate, NBC's Kristen Welker moderated a more tempered yet still contentious exchange between Biden and Trump on October 22nd. They tackled various issues including COVID-19, China relations, crime and immigration.
Trump defended his administration's pandemic response, asserting, "We're learning to live with it. We have no choice." Biden countered, stressing the ongoing need for precautions and criticizing Trump's management, saying, "People are learning to die with it."
Accusations flew regarding financial ties to China, with Trump alleging, "He’s talking about me taking money from China? I’ve not taken a penny from any country. Ever." Biden vehemently denied, retorting, "What are you hiding?"
Later, Trump showcased his criminal justice reforms and criticized Biden for a 1990s crime bill, questioning Biden's past actions on reform. This marked a shift from previous "tough on crime" rhetoric, reflecting evolving attitudes towards racial justice spurred by earlier protests.
Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Debate Déjà Vu: Biden and Trump return to the debate stage