On Tuesday, September 29 President Donald Trump and Joe Biden faced off for the first time, in a tumultuous presidential debate. Chris Wallace, a Fox News reporter, was the moderator for Tuesday nights debate. He asked both candidates questions about the Supreme Court, Health Care, COVID-19, the economy, the Black Lives Matter movement, and climate change. While each candidate has varying views of each issue, here is what was said: 

On the Supreme Court: 

When asked about filling the Supreme Court Justice open position, President Trump feels that as Commander and Chief, he has the right to elect the next justice and he argued that if the Democrats had it their way, they would be just as ready to fill the seat as the Republican party is. Biden in turn argued that the American people have a right to have a say on who makes up their Supreme Court and feels that we should wait until the election is over to fill the empty seat. 

On Health Care: 

Health care has been a hot topic and both candidates were ready to express their healthcare plans. Trump plans to cut the prices of drugs, such as insulin, in order to make it more affordable for families across the country. Not only does he claim he will lower drug prices, but he also plans to allow governors to buy drugs from other countries in an attempt to lower the cost of certain drugs. Biden on the other hand has a healthcare plan that is ready to be set in place. Biden plans to protect the Affordable Care Act put in place by President Obama in 2010. He does not plan to get rid of private insurance, but rather he wants to build upon the Affordable Care Act by giving Americans more choices as he plans to reduce health care costs and make the healthcare system less complex to navigate. 

On COVID-19: 

Both candidates were asked about their plan for combating COVID-19 and why the American people should trust them over their opponent. Biden pledged that he would provide protective gear and money in an attempt to get people the help that they need as they try to reopen businesses. Biden believes that we need both a decisive health response to curb the spread as well as a decisive economic response that will deliver relief to the American people. Trump feels that he has done a superior job when it comes to controlling the coronavirus. He argued that his closing of the country saved thousands of lives and also claimed that we are just weeks away from a vaccine. 

On Economy and Re-openings: 

The economy is always a huge concern of the American people no matter what party you identify as. Trump feels that re-openings are necessary in order to revive the economy that America had prior to the Coronavirus. He feels that the closure of states is unfair to the American people as we have seen drug and alcohol abuse skyrocket. Biden argued that the top 1% has done very well because of COVID-19, but not the average American. He pointed out that the people on the front lines are the ones that end up losing their jobs. Biden insists that the only way we should open is if we have almost half of the states with significant decreases in cases. 

On Black Lives Matter:

The Black Lives Matter movement has been breaking headlines for several months now and both candidates were asked to address the movement. Despite never having achieved full racial equality in the United States, Biden made it clear that as a country, we have never walked away from acquiring equality.  Biden highlighted the systemic injustice in the U.S. specifically in education, work, and law enforcement and how the law is enforced. Biden pledged to create a transparent system and wants to incorporate a citizens task force that would consist of psychiatrists and social workers. Biden shared that he does support the police, but feels that the police need the assistance of this task force. Trump emphasized his belief in law in order and how he plans to lessen the divide between the American people. Trump feels that Antifa is a huge reason for the violence and chaos that has erupted. 

On Climate Change: 

Climate change is on the minds of not only Americans, but people around the world. Trump argued that he has responded to climate change in the most effective way. He emphasized that as a country, we supposedly have the lowest carbon emission right now during his presidency. In order to prevent more wildfires, Trump feels that there has to be better forest management, such as cleaning the forest floors, in states such as California. Biden showed his support for the Recovery Act as he plans to have America move towards renewable energy opposed to alternatives such as coal. Biden plans to weatherize buildings and create millions of jobs that work towards a clean environment in the process. 

As you can see, the first presidential debate for the 2020 election was an eventful one to say the least.