The first presidential debate: Catch up on what happened
Forty-three days before the election, the highly anticipated matchup between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump finally happened, and it didn't disappoint. Here are all the highlights from the first presidential debate.
Trump wins Facebook, or something…
It’s unclear whether the posts, likes and shares were actually positive ones, but Trump scored the top moment of the night on Facebook with this one-liner:
“My strongest asset is my temperament”
Trump touts 'winning' temperament, calls it his 'strongest asset'
He also dominated conversation overall on Facebook with 79% of mentions compared with 21% for Clinton. And here are the issues that topped the night on Facebook:
1. Taxes
2. ISIS
3. Racial Issues
4. The Economy
5. Crime & Criminal Justice
Meanwhile, over on Twitter:
— Donovan Slack
The grand finale
The two traded barbs on foreign policy, with Trump hitting Clinton for “creating” ISIS and supporting an Iran deal that he said will lead to the country developing nuclear weapons.
On substance, he said China should solve North Korea and took credit for NATO creating a unit to focus on terrorism. Clinton countered, including by saying Trump’s only plan for defeating ISIS is “secret” and that he doesn’t have one.
The moderator also asked Trump to explain a prior comment that Clinton doesn’t have a presidential “look.” Trump repeated his contention that Clinton “doesn’t have the stamina” to become president. She cited her experience as secretary of State, having traveled to 112 countries and negotiated a peace deal and cease fire. When Trump spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee “he can talk to me about stamina,” she said.
Clinton also took the chance to remind voters of words Trump has used to describe women, specifically as “pigs, dogs and slobs,” that he has said pregnancy is an “inconvenience” and that one of the “worst things” he has said was about a woman in a beauty contest. He “called this woman Miss Piggy, then he called her Miss Housekeeping” because she’s Hispanic, said Clinton.
Trump responded by citing hundreds of millions of dollars in ads Clinton is sponsoring against him that are “not nice,” without disputing the specific charges she leveled against him. He also noted that some of his insults were referring specifically to comedienne Rosanne Barr, who’s been critical of him.
“I was going to say something extremely rough to Hillary and her family. And I said ‘I can’t do it.’ ”
— Heidi Przybyla
Trump hits Clinton on 'stamina,' Clinton blasts Trump as a sexist
Trump skates on Iraq
Trump is given the floor to insist that he supported the Iraq War, something disputed by numerous fact checking groups. He recasts comments he made in an interview with radio host Howard Stern prior to the war in which he expressed support for the war (when asked, he said: “I guess so”), insisting he was instead against it. He further builds his case that he was against the war by citing private conversations with Fox News host Sean Hannity, who is a Trump supporter.
— Heidi Przybyla
Pointing fingers on foreign policy
Clinton says Trump has been “very praiseworthy" of Russian President Vladimir Putin and said things that have shocked America's national security rank and file. “That’s why I was so shocked when Donald publicly invited Putin to hack into Americans,” she said.
Trump touts his foreign policy pedigree by citing endorsements from some admirals and the agency that represents border patrol agents. He also questions whether Russia was behind the hacking. “I don’t think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC,” but it could also be China or somebody who weighs 400 pounds sitting on their bed, he said.
Clinton outlines her ISIS plan, including to prevent online recruiting, supporting airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.
Trump said Obama and Clinton created a vacuum in Iraq and Libya. Clinton said Trump supported the invasion of Iraq as he interjected: “wrong, wrong.” Clinton defends the timetable for U.S. withdrawal by noting that former president George W. Bush set the timetable for when to get out of Iraq. The Iraqi government would have had to agree for U.S. troops to remain there, something they did not do, she said.
— Heidi Przybyla
Birtherism
Trump is asked to explain why he kept pressing questions about President Obama’s birth place, even after the president in 2011 produced his birth certificate proving he was born in Hawaii.
Trump made no apologies. He cited the news organization McClatchy, which sent a reporter to Kenya to investigate the issue and claimed credit for getting Obama to release his birth certificate. “I was the one who got him to produce the birth certificate and I think I did a good job,” he said.
The moderator asked Trump what he has to say to African Americans on the issue. “I say nothing,” he said, insisting he’s developed really good relations with the community.
Clinton responded: “Just listen to what you heard.” She said Trump’s campaign was founded “on a racist lie” and cited a 1973 Justice Department lawsuit brought against Trump for housing discrimination. “He has a long record of engaging in racist behavior,” she said.
Trump on birther issue: 'I think I did a good job'
— Heidi Przybyla
Racial healing
Both candidates are asked how to improve race relations.
Clinton emphasized restoring trust between communities and police, reforming police practices and taking guns away from people who shouldn’t have them. She said the police should be prepared to use force only when necessary.
“Everyone should be respected by the law and everyone should respect the law,” Clinton said. “Right now that’s not the case in a lot of our neighborhoods." She also cited many “good police officers who equally want reform” and said we have to get guns out of the hands of people who “should not have them."
Trump said Clinton won’t use the words “law and order,” which is “what we need in our country.” African Americans and Hispanics “are living in hell” in certain communities, he said. He also reiterated the need to “take the guns away” from “bad people.”
When Clinton said it’s unfortunate that Trump paints such a “dire picture” of these communities, he audibly sighed. Clinton cited statistics that African Americans are more likely to be arrested, charged and put in jail for the same offenses as white Americans. “We cannot just say law and order. We have to come up with a plan,” including ending mandatory minimum sentences and private prisons. She also cited “common sense gun safety provisions” and preventing people on the terror watch list from buying guns.
Trump said he agrees with Clinton that individuals on the terror watch list should be barred from possessing firearms: “I tend to agree with that quite strongly,” he said. He cited her prior use of the words “super predator” in describing African-American youths and said these communities are “very upset” with politicians.
— Heidi Przybyla
Facebook: Top moment in first half is …
That honor belongs to Trump, according to the social media site, which is tracking shares, likes and posts, when he said this:
“She tells you how to fight ISIS on her website. I don't think Gen. Douglas MacArthur would like that too much.”
— Donovan Slack
2016 USA TODAY/Facebook candidate barometer
Notable, if not A-list, guests…
So it’s not exactly the glitziest lineup, but a fair number of (somewhat) notable guests attended the first presidential debate in person.
USA TODAY’s Josh Hafner has the full rundown, from NBA team owner Mark Cuban to Don King:
Here are the big names in attendance at tonight's debate
— Donovan Slack
To pay or not to pay
Clinton turns the attention to Trump’s business record, citing the average Americans and contractors whom he’s “stiffed” over the years and asking why he refused to pay them for their work.
Trump didn’t deny his nonpayment of contractors, saying maybe those contractors didn’t “do a good job.” He said “I take advantage of the laws of the nation” and that his obligation is to take care of himself, his company and his employees. He also cited a Trump hotel he’s opening in Washington, saying it’s ahead of schedule and under budget.
— Heidi Przybyla
What do taxes have to do with emails?
Trump is asked why he isn’t releasing his tax returns to the U.S. public. He cited a mandatory financial statement that he has released and continued to insist he cannot release them because they are under audit. “I’ve been audited for almost 15 years,” he said, turning the conversation to deleted emails by Clinton. He seemed to suggest he’d release them if she releases her prior emails.
“You’re just seen another example of bait and switch here,” said Clinton. “The IRS has made clear there is no prohibition on releasing it,” she said. Clinton cited a number of reasons why Trump may not be releasing them: Maybe he’s not as rich or charitable as he says he is. She cited $650 million he owes to Wall Street and foreign banks and that it’s possible he’s paid nothing in federal income tax. “It must be something really important, even terrible he’s trying to hide,” she said. Trump contended that “you don’t learn that much” from tax returns.
When Clinton got her chance to address the email issue, she kept it short: “I made a mistake using a private email,” she said. “I’m not going to make any excuses,” she said.
— Heidi Przybyla
It didn't take long for Trump, Clinton to get feisty
The NAFTA clash
The two traded bards over foreign trade, with Trump slamming Clinton over her husband’s record signing into law the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement and her prior support for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership.
She cited her husband’s record in the 1990s of creating new jobs and said she would appoint a special prosecutor to enforce trade deals as Trump continued to blame NAFTA and overregulation of companies for U.S. jobs losses. “NAFTA is the worst trade deal maybe signed anywhere,” he said. Over and over he cited “bureaucratic red tape.”
Trump continued to focus on the tax system, saying U.S. companies are not being allowed to bring their money back into the country, or to repatriate them. Clinton countered by saying Trump’s plan would propose a massive increase for rich people like him. “Slashing taxes on the wealthy hasn’t worked and a lot of really smart wealthy people know that,” she said.
— Heidi Przybyla
#TrumpSniffles is now a thing
After the Republican nominee repeatedly sniffled during some of his early answers, the Twitterverse responded accordingly:
And, of course, the sniffle soon had its own Twitter account.
— Donovan Slack
First topic: Jobs
Moderator Lester Holt cites income inequality “that remains insignificant," and both candidates are asked how to best create the kind of jobs to ameliorate that inequality.
Clinton says we need to build an economy “for everyone, not just those at the top,” citing her plan to create jobs in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and clean renewable energy. “We also have to make the economy fairer,” including raising the national minimum wage, instituting corporate profit sharing and paid family leave, affordable college and making sure and “making sure the wealthy pay their fair share.”
Trump spent much of his time diagnosing the problem, saying U.S. jobs are fleeing the country and citing China’s devaluation of its currency. “They are using our country as a piggy bank” to rebuild their country. “We can’t allow it to happen anymore,” he said. On policy, he said he would reduce taxes “tremendously,” which will be a job creator similar to what former President Reagan did. He also called for renegotiating the nation’s trade deals.
Clinton said the kind of plan Trump is proposing is “trickle-down economics all over again.” She said: “I call it Trumped-up trickle down.” She also accused him of “rooting for the housing crisis.”
“He really believes that the more you help wealthy people,” the better off everyone will be, she said.
Trump countered by saying the U.S. needs to stop companies from leaving the country.
— Heidi Przybyla
It's on!
And moderator Lester Holt is already getting some early reviews...
But things quickly soured about 30 minutes in as he allowed Trump (and Clinton) to go it alone for what seemed like a lunch break.
Presidential debate: How'd Lester Holt do?
— Donovan Slack
Sanders: Clinton faces a 'great entertainer'
Clinton is up against “a great entertainer” in Trump, who will be “a tough opponent for her” during tonight’s debate, Sen. Bernie Sanders said on MSNBC Monday night.
The Vermont independent said he hopes Clinton will stay focused on issues that are important to middle-class Americans, including raising the minimum wage and addressing income inequality and climate change.
“I think you have to put him on the defensive with regard to the issues that impact ordinary American’s lives, and when you do that, I think that people will see that he’s way off in another world unto himself, not dealing with the reality of the American people,” Sanders said.
Sanders indicated his campaigning on behalf of Clinton is about to step up, saying his schedule will be “very, very vigorous.” He said Trump’s election would be “a disaster” for the country, and reiterated his pledge to do everything he can to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“We’re going to go all over this country,” he said. “We’re going to go wherever Secretary Clinton’s people think that I am needed. And I am going to work as hard as I can to make sure that Donald Trump does not become the next president.”
Clinton will campaign on Wednesday with Sanders in New Hampshire.
— Nicole Gaudiano
Oops! Is that a ticket typo?
At least some tickets to tonight’s debate appear to have Clinton’s name with one “l” instead of two.
Ouch.
The folks over at NBC’s New York affiliate have figured out the mystery:
"Hofstra University spokeswoman Karla Schuster said in a statement emailed to NBC 4 New York, 'These tickets are not official tickets to the debate. They were printed at the last minute to create a souvenir for the students. We'll be reprinting them for all those who won tickets.' "
— Donovan Slack
Trump hotel bar menu: 'Amerrica beer'
Washingtonian's Benjamin Freed shares tonight's special debate menu at the Trump hotel, which features all-you-can-drink "Amerrica" beer for $100. Ok, then.
Obama: Defeating Trump is ‘my final fight as president’
In a debate night fundraising appeal signed “Barack Obama,” the president says this is “the most important night of this election.”
He asks for money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and asserts that the possibility of a Trump presidency should be an “enormous wake up call” and that if Republicans take over Congress as well, it would destroy his legacy and “be dangerous for our country.”
“Defeating Trump and his Republicans is my final fight as President,” he writes. “It’s a tough battle — but we’ve fought and won before. So I’m asking: Will you chip in $1 before the debate?”
Hmmm, pretty sure there will be other fights. Like trying to keep the government open when funding runs out Friday, or in December …
— Donovan Slack
What you aren’t seeing on TV
Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Gary Johnson didn’t make the main stage tonight, but they are hoping to capture some eyeballs on social media.
Both say they will be live-tweeting (@DrJillStein and @GovGaryJohnson) and Facebooking while Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump face off.
Johnson and his running mate, former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, are set to participate from Twitter’s headquarters in New York City.
Stein, meanwhile, is outside the debate hall at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., with "a crowd of American revolutionaries," and her campaign says she will answer the debate questions in real time “via an unprecedented and innovative social media experience.”
“Using the power of the free Internet, we are actually breaking open the censored debate created by the Democratic and Republican parties,” Stein told USA TODAY's Eliza Collins.
In 2012, Stein tried to get into a debate hall unauthorized and was arrested — she and her running mate were handcuffed to metal chairs for eight hours.
Stein told USA TODAY she didn’t plan on making a scene inside Monday's event, though she reported being escorted off the university grounds by police earlier Monday.
I guess we’ll see how this whole #OccupyTheDebates thing works out …
— Donovan Slack
Green Party hacked?
Things aren't starting out so well for Stein's social media revolution...
— Donovan Slack
‘Deplorables’ take over Trump Twitter account
Donald Trump was rather quiet on Twitter on Monday, tweeting out one poll showing him in the lead and retweeting his campaign manager opining about his standings in polls.
But tonight, the real estate developer says his “team of deplorables” will be live-tweeting the debate.
The tweet comes at the same time his campaign blasted out a release highlighting a Washington Poststory about a Post/ABC News poll that found 65% of respondents thought it was unfair to describe “a large portion of Trump’s supporters as prejudiced against women and minorities."
Clinton earlier this month said half of Trump’s supporters belong in a “basket of deplorables” because they are racist, sexist, Islamophobic and/or xenophobic. She later said she shouldn’t have said “half.”
— Donovan Slack
Hillary trolls Donald
The Democratic nominee tweeted out President Obama's remarks during the 2011 White House Correspondents' Association dinner mocking Trump while he was in the audience:
At the White House, debate trumps NFL (!)
President Obama likely will forgo his usual Monday Night Football and tune in to the debate instead, Press Secretary Josh Earnest says.
— Donovan Slack
For Obama, the presidential debate trumps 'Monday Night Football'
For most Americans, though, despite monster debate viewership predictions, football may just win out. Here’s what SurveyMonkey found in a recent poll of Americans’ plans:
• 57%: Monday Night Football
• 43%: Presidential debate
Among Democrats, 55% are more likely to watch the debate, while for Republicans, 64% are more interested in football. (Tonight, the New Orleans Saints are playing the Atlanta Falcons.)
— Donovan Slack
Meanwhile, outside the debate hall…
Protesters are looking for some TV time while championing causes and candidates. Our Eliza Collins says there have been about 20 arrests so far...
— Donovan Slack
Word play
So this is kind of fun. Merriam-Webster is tracking real-time word-lookup rates, and these words are what’s been trending and why. Taken together, they kind of sum up this whole thing, really:
1. "demagogic, demagogue": irresponsible, reckless rhetoric
Searches spiked after famed scientist Stephen Hawking used it to describe Trump, after Obama used the word during the Democratic National Convention and after Clinton invoked it to describe Trump’s reaction to bombs in New York and New Jersey.
2. "skittle": not what you think
This spiked after Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr, tweeted a picture of a bowl of Skittles candy with a (strange) comparison to Syrian refugees. The actual non-commercial definition comes from a British bowling game in which a wooden ball is used to knock down pins known as “skittles.”
3. "hubris, pariah": exaggerated pride or self-confidence, outcast
Searches increased after emails from Colin Powell leaked in which he called Trump a pariah and accused Clinton of hubris.
4. "deplorable": deserving censure or contempt
This of course came after Clinton said “half” of Trump’s supporters belong in a “basket of deplorables.” As we noted above, she later walked it back and said she shouldn’t have said “half.”
5. "sophomoric": conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature
Searches for the term went up after retired army general Mark Hertling used it on CNN to describe Trump’s approach to foreign policy.
We'll be checking back in with the @MerriamWebster folks as the night unfolds to see what other words people want to know about ...
And it’s official, they have now gone around the bend and are now (at least figuratively) drinking at M-W, thanks to Trump using the word “bigly.”
— Donovan Slack
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