'They're going to dominate you, Joe': Trump accuses Biden of being a socialist moments into presidential debate
Clash in Cleveland, Ohio, first of three debates between candidates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has accused Joe Biden of being a “socialist" just moments into the first presidential debate.
In the very first section, supposed to be focussed on the issue of whether or not the president should nominate a replacement for the Supreme Court before the election, Mr Trump said Democrats wanted to veer to the left.
“Your party wants to go Socialist... and they're going to dominate you, Joe. You know that,” said Mr Trump.
Mr Biden snapped back: “The party is me, right now. I am the Democratic Party.”
Mr Biden has often said one of his proudest achievements as part of the government of Barack Obama, was the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.
This extended access to healthcare for millions of Americans. Mr Trump vowed to overturn it when he was campaigning for president, vowing to replace it with something better.
His healthcare plans have remained unspecific.
If elected, Mr Biden wants to extend Obamacare, though he has stopped short of supporting a policy of Medicare for All, something campaigned for by progressives such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez“
"What I proposed is that we expand Obamacare, and we increase it,” Mr Biden said.
“One of the big debates we had with 23 of my colleagues trying to win the nomination that I won, were saying that Biden wanted to allow people to have private insurance still. They can, they do. They will under my proposal.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments