Trump town hall: President rages against Savannah Guthrie and protesters arrested as Biden holds rival event
Follow the latest updates
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
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.
Red v Blue, the Trump and Biden set design fits
Trump is back and talking about Scotus pick
RGB said it best, Trump says, quoting her during Obama’s last year when he was blocked from getting the Democrat’s pick that a president is elected for four years, not three.
“I have great respect for Justice Ginsberg,” Trump says.
“The whole ball game changed when I saw the way they treated Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh,” he added. “There has never been anybody treated so badly as now-Justice Kavanaugh.”
Next question to Biden is about the Supreme Court
Should safeguards be brought in for the Supreme Court and what would he say to LGBT+ Americans who are worried about the future directions of the court?
Biden underlines his LGBT+ credentials and acknowledge that they should be worried by the addition of another conservative justice. He then pivots to the issue of healthcare and the threat the Affordable Care Act.
Biden says it is inconsistent to put someone on the court during an election with so many people having already voted.
Stephanopoulos asks about court packing.
Biden says he is not a fan of court packing, but that there are other options including changing term limits. Says he will come out with a clear answer before election day depending on the confirmation of ACB.
Trump ‘never asked’ Amy Coney Barrett if she would rule in his favour if election goes to Supreme Court.
“It would be up to her,” Trump says. “I don’t see any conflict whatsoever.”
“I never asked her about it, I never talked to her about it.”
Trump says Roe v Wade might ‘get sent down to the states’
Trump says he things Roe v Wade may perhaps “get sent down to the states”, or “perhaps nothing will happen”.
“That’s why I chose her, because I think she will make a great decision,” Trump says of Amy Coney Barrett.
Biden asked how he will restore bipartisanship
The questioner is the son of Ronald Reagan’s secretary of transportation.
Biden says the key is listening and work out how to move forward.
With Trump out of the way the vindictiveness that means Republicans have to do what he says goes away.
Trump insists he doesn't owe Russia money as he refuses to reveal financial details at town hall
Donald Trump claimed he does not owe any Russians or “sinister” people large sums of money when pressed to name to whom he owes hundreds of millions of dollars.
“No, I don't owe Russia money. It’s called mortgages. I will let you know who I owe, whatever small amount it is,” he said during a town hall on NBC, adding of debts laid out in a recent New York Times report: “It’s very very straight. Tiny percentage of the [net] worth. I am extremely underleveraged.”
John T Bennett is looking closer at the debt angle.
Trump rages against questions about tax returns and insists he doesn’t owe Russia money
The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.
The Trump crowd is getting flirty
“I have to say you have a great smile,” Paulette Dale says at the Trump town hall. “You’re so handsome when you smile.”
Stephanopoulos asks about question of accountability
Biden promises to restore the Department of Justice to its correct role of working for the people and not acting as a personal law firm for the president.
If you’ve picked up from our coverage the difference in tone of the two town halls, you’re not alone.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies