a presidential debate unlike any other
 By Natasha Frost |
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| President Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr. faced off on Tuesday in their first presidential debate, in Cleveland. Doug Mills/The New York Times |
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| Over more than 90 minutes of interjections and altercations, in which the moderator Chris Wallace repeatedly asked President Trump to let former Vice President Joe Biden speak, bluster and crosstalk quickly led to name-calling and heckling. The resulting debate on Tuesday night was nearly impossible to watch, doing little to shed light on the biggest issues facing the United States or the substantive differences between Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden. |
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| As the debate, the first of three between the presidential candidates, came to a close, Mr. Biden implored the American people to vote, with a reminder that they alone would decide the election. In response, Mr. Trump ranted about perceived slights during his 2016 campaign and said he would ask the Supreme Court to “look at” ballots cast in the election. |
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| Key lines: The country has become “weaker, sicker” and “more divided” under Mr. Trump’s leadership, Mr. Biden said. From Mr. Trump: “China ate your lunch, Joe.” |
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| Trump’s interruptions: “Mr. President, I am the moderator of this debate, and I would like you to let me ask my question and then you can answer it,” said Mr. Wallace. |
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For more: The Times summarized the debate with live coverage, a news analysis and minute-by-minute fact-checking, as well as video of the debate itself.
