President Trump and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. appeared in simultaneous town-hall-style events on NBC and ABC, after Mr. Trump rejected the previously scheduled debate. Follow our analysis of both of the broadcasts.
President Trump and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. appeared in simultaneous town-hall-style events on NBC and ABC, after Mr. Trump rejected the previously scheduled debate. Follow our analysis of both of the broadcasts.
What Happened in the Trump and Biden Town Halls: Full Analysis
Oct 15, 2020
What Happened in the Trump and Biden Town Halls: Full Analysis
President Trump and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. appeared in simultaneous town-hall-style events on NBC and ABC, after Mr. Trump rejected the previously scheduled debate. Times reporters provided real-time analysis.Click here to catch up on the highlightsandour fact checks.
Patricia Mazzei
Miami Bureau Chief
Biden gets asked about the Trump virus testing question in the other town hall. “It’s just decency,” Biden says of getting tested for the coronavirus ahead of this town hall.
Lisa Lerer
Host, “On Politics” Newsletter
OK, Biden is wrapped up! We are done. Thoughts, everyone?
Lisa Lerer
Host, “On Politics” Newsletter
I, for one, did not enjoy this evening. It was too hard to toggle between the two and I think that was a disservice to voters. Call me a traditionalist but I want the debates back!
Lisa Lerer
Host, “On Politics” Newsletter
There was a little bit of news: Biden on court packing. Trump on taxes and white suprematists.
Lisa Lerer
Host, “On Politics” Newsletter
We’re tracking all the news-making moments here:
Live Updates From Town Halls: Trump Faces Tough Questions and Biden Promises a Court Stance
Trip Gabriel
National Correspondent, Politics
As ABC talking heads chew over the town hall, the camera shows Biden continuing to speak with the voters in the hall, addressing them from the stage one-on-one.
Patricia Mazzei
Miami Bureau Chief
I agree that tonight was weird, Lisa. But quite a contrast on style nevertheless.
Jennifer Medina
National Politics Reporter
Lisa, no question that this setup was not helpful to voters, particularly for the very few voters who might be swayed at this point. But Biden did go much deeper on policy than in any other prime-time night I can think of in the campaign so far.
Trip Gabriel
National Correspondent, Politics
It’s an interesting image on ABC. There hasn’t been a rope line in this presidential race in many months, which is normally where Biden tends to shine.
Jennifer Medina
National Politics Reporter
How many people do you think are in that hall, Trip?
Trip Gabriel
National Correspondent, Politics
Jenny, it can’t be more than a dozen or so.  Looks like the lights came up in a movie theater where they’re showing a Z-grade thriller to a scattered crowd.
Apoorva Mandavilli
Science and Health Reporter
Trump didn’t talk much about Biden, and it sounds like Biden didn’t talk much about Trump. Ultimately, this was a loss for the voters. This was more a campaign event for both of them than what the voters needed at this stage of the race.
Trip Gabriel
National Correspondent, Politics
Putting in a plug for the home team, I’ll note that articles in The New York Times were quoted in both town halls: pieces about Trump’s taxes and about Biden’s energy policy.
Apoorva Mandavilli
Science and Health Reporter
I was also struck by the many things about the coronavirus on which Trump is continuing to be evasive – on when he last took a test, where he really stands on masks, what really happened to his lungs.
Jennifer Medina
National Politics Reporter
Biden is clearly enjoying this moment, which may be closer to a real rope line than he’s had for most of the general election campaign. He had a strong night — and he certainly appeared to do no harm, which has sort of been the name of his game.
Trip Gabriel
National Correspondent, Politics
Jenny, this takes me right back to that moment with Biden in the elevator at The New York Times Building, where his encounter with the elevator operator utterly upstaged the fact that he didn’t win the paper’s endorsement in the primary.  She ended uphelping to nominate him at the convention!
Lisa Lerer
Host, “On Politics” Newsletter
Thanks for joining us, everyone, for quite a split-screen evening. I’m sure your remotes got a workout.
Lisa Lerer
Host, “On Politics” Newsletter
We’ll have plenty more news and analysis at nytimes.com, where you can check out our live briefing right now for all the highlights from this very unusual evening:
Live Updates From Town Halls: Trump Faces Tough Questions and Biden Promises a Court Stance
Lisa Lerer
Host, “On Politics” Newsletter
And I’ll be back in your inboxes tomorrow morning with our On Politics newsletter. If you don’t already get it,sign up here for free.
Lisa Lerer
Host, “On Politics” Newsletter
Have a good night, and we’ll see you back here for the final debate.