COVID vaccine soon, says Trump as Biden accuses him of shoddy handling

Incumbent US President Donald Trump and his Democrat rival Joe Biden tore into each other on issues ranging from the handling of the coronavirus situation, racism to refugee crisis and environment issues at the final debate ahead of the US presidential polls at Nashville, Tennessee.

The US President, who has been slammed for a poor handling of the coronavirus situation in the country, said more and more people are getting better by the day and a vaccine will be out soon, although not before the November 3 polls.

Trump also said there was no way that he could have kept the country closed for long.

“We can’t keep this country closed. This is a massive country with a massive economy…There’s depression, alcohol, drugs at a level nobody’s ever seen before. The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself,” he said.

#USElection: Final presidential debate underway

US Pres & Republican party’s nominee Trump says,”I’ve been congratulated by heads of many countries on what we’ve been able to do.”

Democratic Party’s Joe Biden says,”A renowned journal called his response absolutely tragic.” pic.twitter.com/GAPtVfW7IP

— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2020

Biden held Trump’s administration responsible for the 2.23 lakh COVID-19 deaths in the US by failing to chalk out a “comprehensive plan”. He asserted that he will fill in the gaps – make people wear masks, have rapid testing, have national standards on opening of schools and businesses – and do what Trump’s administration has failed to do so far.

“We’re in a circumstance where the President thus far has no comprehensive plan. I would make sure we move in a direction where people wear masks, we have rapid testing, we have national standards on opening up schools and businesses. Folks, I will take care of this, I will end this, I will make sure we have a plan,” he said.

Alluding to recent reports which indicated the interference of Russia and Iran in the US elections, Biden said anyone meddling with the polls, “will pay a price.”

During the discussion on racism, Biden accused Trump of pouring fuel on every single racist fire. Trump shot back by claiming that he was the “least racist person in the room”.

On global warming, while Biden warned that any furtherance of Trump’s rule will put the US in “real trouble” Trump dismissed the allegations by comparing US with countries like India, China and Russia which he said had far more inferior quality of air.

“Look at China, Russia, India, how filthy it is. The air is filthy.” “We have the cleanest air, the cleanest water and the best carbon emissions,” he added.

Trump, was a more calmer and respectful version of himself at the debate and adhered to etiquette with an “if I may answer” and “thank you” to the moderator.

A planned second debate between the duo on October15 was cancelled after 74-year-old Trump refused to do a virtual face-off with 77-year-old Biden despite concerns over the presidents COVID-19 diagnosis.

The two rivals instead attended town halls on competing television networks.

Trump and Biden fiercely clashed over a number of issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, racism, economy and climate, during the first presidential debate last month, marked by angry interruptions and bitter accusations.

The one-off debate between the vice presidential candidates Mike Pence and Kamala Harris took place on October 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah. On Monday, the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates announced new rules under which it will mute microphones for two minutes of the rival speakers so as to give them uninterrupted opening remarks during the final debate being held in Nashville, Tennessee.

The decision to mute microphones comes after a chaotic first presidential debate that saw the two candidates interrupting each other repeatedly. The final debate is being moderated by NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker. Under the new rules, Trump and Biden will each have two minutes of uninterrupted time to speak at the beginning of every 15-minute segment of the debate. The commission said both campaigns have agreed to the two-minute, uninterrupted rule.

(With inputs from agencies)