Their initial confrontation in Cleveland was not characterized by any of those words. Trump, who had been criticized by Republicans for being overly aggressive in his previous debate, arrived in a more restrained manner in an attempt to rejuvenate his struggling campaign. However, his relatively subdued performance did not seem to have the potential to change the course of a race that has remained unaffected by significant global events. Here are six key points from the last 2020 presidential debate. It was an actual debate! Following the chaos of the first debate, a mute feature was implemented by the debate commission for the opening statements of both candidates in each segment, which proved to be helpful. Trump restrained himself from interrupting as much, refraining from discussing Hunter Biden's military departure. He even complimented moderator Kristen Welker for maintaining control. The absence of interruptions enabled viewers to distinguish the differences between the candidates on various important issues such as the pandemic, climate change, systemic racism, economic recovery, federal spending, and healthcare. Trump's advisors believe he needs the election to be a clear choice between him and Biden, but the contrasts between the two candidates only came late in the final debate after the cancellation of the second one due to Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis. Despite being behind in the polls and with over 48 million Americans already voting, Trump still lacks a convincing response to the pandemic. Biden, who wore a mask on stage, made his case against Trump's handling of COVID-19 from the beginning. The virus has claimed more than 220,000 lives in the United States. Biden stated that anyone responsible for a large number of deaths should not continue as president of the United States. This echoes a similar sentiment expressed by Senator Kamala Harris during the vice presidential debate, to which Trump and Vice President Mike Pence had no response. Trump mentioned that models had predicted up to 2.2 million deaths if no action was taken, pointing out that it is a global pandemic and acknowledging that mortality rates have decreased. He also claimed that the situation is improving and that the pandemic is on the decline. Hospitalizations and cases are increasing. Trump used his own experience with the virus to explain why the second debate was canceled. He mentioned that he learned a lot from his hospitalization. However, before the debate, he criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top infectious disease specialist in the country. Biden confidently asserted that he will put an end to the virus and ensure that there is a well-thought-out plan in place. Despite previous concerns that Trump was untouchable, it is actually Biden who has maintained a strong lead in the polls and approval ratings. Throughout the race, Biden has often responded to Trump's accusations by simply shrugging them off and questioning whether he looks like a radical socialist. At the first debate, he proclaimed, "I am the party." On Thursday, Trump tried to connect Biden to Harris' views on health care, label him as being influenced by "AOC plus three," and tie him to Bernie Sanders on health care. In response, Biden used his "Come on, man!" approach and called Trump a confused individual who believes he is running against someone else. He is competing against Joe Biden in the election. The Democratic candidate is appealing to the audience, asking them to trust their own judgment based on their knowledge of both candidates' characters. Biden is confident in himself and believes in the unlikelihood of Trump's criticisms against him, a strategy that has proven successful so far. Trump finally delivered the blow that many Republicans had been anticipating, criticizing Biden for being all talk and no action during his nearly half-century in Washington. Trump repeatedly questioned why Biden had not implemented the changes he promised to make, calling him out for his lack of accomplishments. Biden struggled to respond effectively to Trump's attack during the debate. He even went so far as to distance himself from President Barack Obama due to their failure to pass an immigration overhaul. He admitted that they had made a mistake and it took too long to get it right, emphasizing that he aims to be president, not vice president. Republican strategist Dave Kochel noted that the criticism of why the immigration overhaul wasn't achieved was strong. Following a disastrous first debate, Trump demonstrated his ability to stand next to Biden and present his case effectively. However, Trump has not consistently prosecuted this case and his image as an outsider has diminished now that he is a politician and an incumbent with unfulfilled promises. Trump criticized Biden for his failures by saying, "I ran because of you." However, Trump also struggled to connect with viewers as he made references to obscure internet controversies and made statements that lacked context, such as attacking the Biden family's business dealings or mentioning events like the takeover of a submarine port. Trump seemed to assume that viewers were as familiar with these topics as he was. Biden did not seem to respond to Trump's allegations, which included noncontextualized references, particularly regarding Hunter Biden. Trump continued to mention emails and money, claiming that the situation had worsened. However, the segment concluded without any significant confrontation. It served as a reminder of the contrast between running against Biden and Clinton for Trump. Unlike Clinton, Biden has not faced years of attacks that have deeply influenced voters. Trump focused on right-wing theories that appealed to his base but did not sway other voters, according to Democratic strategist Meredith Kelly. Despite this, the candidates had meaningful disagreements, particularly regarding the extent to which the economy and schools should be closed to control the virus. Trump strongly pushed for reopening businesses and activities as soon as possible, while Biden emphasized that this should only occur when it is truly safe to do so. Trump mentioned his own experience with COVID-19, stating that we need to learn to adapt and live with the virus. Biden expressed skepticism at this approach, questioning Trump's stance. "We are dying because of it." Trump criticized Biden for mostly campaigning from home this spring and summer, saying that they can't isolate themselves like Biden does. He made fun of the Plexiglas dividers in restaurants, calling them cubicles wrapped in plastic. He emphasized the importance of keeping the nation open, while Biden focused on prioritizing public health to avoid a dark winter. Biden's message was to shut down the virus, not the country. The candidates had civil disagreements on health care and the environment. Biden stated his intention to move away from the oil industry and eliminate federal subsidies, prompting a response from Trump urging voters in energy-heavy states to remember Biden's statement. The declaration was well-received by progressives but criticized by Democrats in states reliant on energy production. Republican strategist Colin Reed viewed the debate as a draw. He stated that both candidates were well-prepared in terms of their attitude and content. A victory for Biden would be any advancement at this point, while Trump needed a decisive victory.