Trump town hall: President rages against Savannah Guthrie and protesters arrested as Biden holds rival event

Follow the latest updates

Trump says only Jesus Christ is more famous than him

Donald Trump and Joe Biden took part in dueling town hall appearances on what should have been the night of the second presidential debate.

On the same day that the presidential candidates should have clashed, would-be moderator Steve Scully was suspended by his employer C-Span after seeking advice from an anti-Trump activist and lying about it when confronted.

Instead, Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC News’s Today show, hosted the Trump town hall in Miami while ABC News' chief anchor, George Stephanopoulos, hosted Biden in Philadelphia.

Key Points

• Biden stays on and answers more questions
• A combative performance from Trump
• Biden : ‘I don’t believe anyone should be going to drug courts for drug use’
• Social media praise for Savannah Guthrie
• Why should people give Trump a second chance?

[16 October 2020 02:36 · Oliver O'Connell]

Crossover: Stephanopoulos references Trump town hall on NBC

Biden asked if he thinks the next debate will happen and whether he will demand Trump take a Covid test that day to show he is negative for the virus.

He says yes and that he took a test before this evening’s town hall.

“I’m less concerned about me, more about the guys at the cameras and the Secret Service people…”

Says that he is confident in debate rules and expects to be there.

[16 October 2020 02:39 · Oliver O'Connell]

That’s a wrap from Philadelphia for the Biden town hall

Stephanopoulos thanks the audience for their questions and their service to democracy.

ABC have thrown to post-event coverage, but Biden is staying and answering more questions from the town hall participants with his mask back on.

[16 October 2020 02:46 · Oliver O'Connell]

Trump speaks with audience members post-town hall

Donald Trump speaks with audience members after participating in an NBC News town hall event at the Perez Art Museum in Miami (AFP via Getty Images)

[16 October 2020 02:48 · Oliver O'Connell]

Police arrest protesters outside Trump town hall

Police arrest supporters of Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden prior of US President Donald Trump NBC News town hall event at the Perez Art Museum in Miami on October 15, 2020. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

Miami Police officers detain demonstrators protesting against president Donald Trump (REUTERS)

[16 October 2020 02:53 · Oliver O'Connell]

Biden stayed on and answered more questions

[16 October 2020 02:55 · Oliver O'Connell]

Lots of praise on social media for Savannah Guthrie

[16 October 2020 02:58 · Oliver O'Connell]

Biden still going

ABC’s Martha Raddatz says that we’ll all probably be in bed before Biden is out of that hall. The real test will be next week when he faces a combative president Trump.

[16 October 2020 03:12 · Oliver O'Connell]

Holding Trump to account

Holly Baxter writes that Savannah Guthrie, who came prepared for everything and was gloriously unafraid to say Trump sounded like a ‘crazy uncle’ on Twitter, came out better than the president or the former VP tonight

[16 October 2020 03:16 · Oliver O'Connell]

Biden : ‘I don’t believe anyone should be going to drug courts for drug use’

[16 October 2020 03:22 · Oliver O'Connell]

Trump: 'I don’t owe Russia money’