Trump's Debate Lies Went Unchecked by CNN Moderators
By: Ryan Bort
like his would matter to any maga sycophants...
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
In case you missed it, the first 2024 presidential debate was a disaster.
Joe Biden stumbled through responses to basic questions, sending Democrats into a panic over what to do about an aging incumbent who didn't seem up to the task of running the country. Donald Trump wasn't much better, struggling to stay on topic and, as he's wont to do, unleashing a torrent of lies just about every time he opened his mouth.
It's typically the job of the moderators to call out a candidate when they say something demonstrably false, but CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash did no such thing. The duo didn't even attempt to fact-check the former president, allowing him to freely spew misinformation to tens of millions of viewers. Biden did his best to point out when Trump was lying, but Biden's best on Thursday night wasn't anywhere near as good as it needed to be.
It's impossible to catalog all of Trump's lies during the debate without publishing an entire transcript of the nearly two-hour event. Here are some of the biggest, though:
Trump attempted to blame Nancy Pelosi for the violence on Jan. 6.
When asked by CNN host and debate moderator Jake Tapper what he would say to "those voters who believed that you violated your constitutional oath through your actions and inaction on January 6, 2021, and worried that you'll do it again," Trump responded by deflecting blame to Pelosi.
"Nancy Pelosi — if you just watched the news from two days ago — on tape to her daughter who's a documentary filmmaker, they say, but she's saying, "Oh, no, it's my responsibility. I was responsible for this.' Because I offered her 10,000 soldiers or National Guard, and she turned them down."
"She can't be very happy with their daughter because it made her into a liar. She said, 'I take full responsibility for January 6,'" Trump said.
As fact-checkers were quick to point out, neither Pelosi, nor any member of Congress has the unilateral authority to activate the D.C. National Guard — only the president, defense secretary, and U.S. Army secretary can. Despite what he claimed, Trump made no such authorization ahead of or on the day of the riot. In fact, Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the D.C. National Guard commander, testified before the Jan. 6 Committee that in the days before the riot, Pentagon officials had severely curtailed his ability to speedily deploy troops to locations around D.C., and that the approval for National Guard support on Jan. 6 was delayed by the Pentagon for several hours.
What the video released by House Republicans didn't show was that Pelosi's recorded statements were part of a longer conversation in which she grilled her staff about why Capitol Police were so unprepared the day of the attack. According to Politico, which reviewed 45 minutes of footage provided to the House by Pelosi's daughter, the former speaker expressed frustration with law enforcement's response.
His claims about Pelosi may not have been his most ridiculous lie about Jan. 6. "On Jan. 6 we were respected all over the world," he said, dodging a question about what he has to say to people who feel he violated his oath on the day of the Capitol riot.
Trump told several egregious lies about abortion
On the issue of reproductive rights and freedoms, Trump claimed onstage that Democrats want to "kill the baby."
"They will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth — after birth — if you look at the former governor of Virginia, he was willing to do this. He said, 'We'll put the baby aside, and will determine what we do with the baby,' meaning: 'We'll kill the baby.'"
Trump has told this lie before, and it's easily disprovable. Ralph Northam, the former governor of Virginia, was not endorsing infanticide in the 2019 statements Trump was referring to, but rather discussing abortions later in pregnancy, and gave a hypothetical example of a mother who had not sought an abortion and gave birth to an infant who was nonviable when asked if he would support abortion up until the moment of birth.
"If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen," Northam said. "The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired. And then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother." Republicans attempted to claim that Northam's comments referred to a decision to kill the infant, rather than a discussion of palliative or continuing care for a child unlikely to survive long after birth.
Abortions later in pregnancy, after the second trimester, are extremely rare. Only 1 percent of abortions in the United States take place any later than 21 weeks, and are typically the result of a severe fetal anomaly that would result in nonviability or places the life and health of the pregnant person at risk.
Trump also claimed that "everybody wanted" the Supreme Court to kill Roe v. Wade and for abortion law to be determined on a state-by-state basis. Polls have repeatedly shown that a substantial majority of Americans oppose the Supreme Court's decision.
Trump said he is responsible for bringing the cost of insulin down for seniors
"I heard him say before: insulin. I'm the one who got the insulin down for the seniors," Trump claimed, emphatically. "I took care of the seniors."
The Trump administration created a voluntary plan program that allowed seniors on certain health care plans to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35. The Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed in 2023, capped insulin costs at $35 for everyone on Medicare, not the select Americans whose plan participated in the program created under Trump.
Trump claimed his statements about Charlottesville Nazis were a "hoax"
During Thursday's debate, Biden raised comments Trump made following a deadly 2017 Unite The Right rally held by neo-Nazis and other white supremacist groups in Charlottesville, Virginia. The former president infamously claimed there "were very fine people, on both sides," in a press conference days after a neo-Nazi drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one person and injuring dozens of others.
Trump, as he has in the past, claimed that his comments had been misrepresented. "That story has been totally wiped out," Trump said to Biden.
"He made up the Charlottesville story, and you'll see it's debunked all over the place," he added. "Just the other day it came out, where it was fully debunked." Trump was referencing a recent, controversial fact check by Snopes, which claimed that "No, Trump Did Not Call Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists 'Very Fine People.'"
The claim hinges on the fact that Trump did, at one point later in his rambling statements on Unite The Right, say that he was "not talking about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists, because they should be condemned totally. But you had many people in that group other than neo-Nazis and white nationalists, okay?"
If one looks at Trump's comment in context, it's clear the former president was attempting to shift at least some of the blame for the violence onto counter-protestors and continue defending GOP talking points about the preservation of Confederate monuments. When asked for clarification on exactly who he was referring to, Trump said that "there were people protesting very quietly the taking down of the statue of Robert E. Lee," the night before the vehicle attack. "I'm sure in that group there were some bad ones. The following day it looked like they had some rough, bad people — neo-Nazis, white nationalists, whatever you want to call them."
The people protesting the removal of Robert E. Lee's statue on August 11, 2017 were a large gathering of white supremacists and neo-Nazis, who infamously carried tiki torches around the University of Virginia's campus while chanting slogans including "White lives matter"; "You will not replace us"; and "Jews will not replace us."
In order for Trump's premise to be true, there would have had to be a third — unidentified — group of people operating within the explicitly racist Unite the Right rally who were allied with the neo-Nazis in their opposition to the removal of Confederate statues, but opposed to the extremist racial ideologies promoted by the organizers and attendees of the event. Fundamentally, the president was attempting to give himself rhetorical cover for statements downplaying the role and intentions of the extremists who descended on Charlottesville, and his allies are all too willing to continue entertaining him.
Trump said he had the best environmental record
Trump has roundly dismissed the climate crisis, tapped a coal lobbyist to lead the Environmental Protection Agency while he was in office, and ahead of a potential second term in office has reportedly told fossil-fuel executives that he'll do whatever they want.
And yet on Thursday night he touted his environmental record, claiming he had "the best numbers ever" while noting how clean the air and water were under his watch. "We had H20," the former president said. In reality, the Trump administration did all it could to roll back air and water protections, as well as a host of other environmental regulations.
Trump also claimed the Paris Climate Agreement, which Trump pulled America out of and Biden rejoined, is costing the U.S. "trillions" and other nations "nothing." Biden snapped back that Trump hasn't "done a damn thing for the environment," but Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg did the best job of explaining the real cost of curbing fossil-fuel emissions during a congressional hearing earlier in the day.
"Wait until you find out how much [we're spending] on oil and gas subsidies," he responded to a question about the administration's environmental policy being too expensive. "Wait until you find out the economic impact that some economists have put at $15 million every hour or every day, trillions of dollars every year, from allowing the environmental conditions in this country and the planet to worsen."
Trump said Biden called Black people "super predators"
Trump and his campaign have spent a lot of time recently arguing that he's the best candidate for Black Americans, with part of the former president's pitch being that they can relate to him more now that he's a convicted felon. During the debate, Trump also attacked Biden's credentials as a champion of Black Americans, alleging he called them "superpredators" in the 1990s. He did so while responding to a question about climate change.
Trump made the allegation during the 2020 campaign, as well, and it was just as false then as it is now. Biden in 1993 spoke about "predators on our streets," but as CNN pointed out, the only time he used "super predators" was a few years later when he argued against the use of the term. (Hillary Clinton did use the term in the '90s, but apologized for doing so in 2016.)
Trump claimed he had the "greatest economy in the history of our country"
It's just not true. For starters, the Covid-19 pandemic triggered the first contraction in the national GDP since the 2008 financial crisis, massive unemployment, a surge in the national debt, and widespread inflation.
However, while Trump could not have predicted or prevented a global pandemic with far-reaching impacts on the national and worldwide economy, even if one excludes pandemic-era struggles, the claim is still false.
Former President Bill Clinton had stronger average GDP growth throughout his presidency than Trump over his eight years in the White House. According to an Associated Press analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis statistics, Trump's GDP growth after inflation averaged 2.67 percent if one excludes the pandemic, Biden is currently averaging 3.4 percent.
As the pandemic recovery continues, the Biden administration has managed to push unemployment down to 3.4 percent in its best month. Pre-pandemic, Trump's lowest unemployment figures clocked in at 3.5 percent. In July of last year, 16 states recorded record-low unemployment levels.
A recent report from the watchdog group The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found that — excluding pandemic-related borrowing — found that Trump expanded the national debt by $4.8 trillion during his tenure in office, versus $2.2 trillion under Biden.
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more oral gems from the convicted felon leading the new SNAFU party...
I didn't watch. Did they ever ask #34 about 1/6?
Sorry, I should have read the article before commenting.
Yes they did, he never answered the question just evaded it. And that was after they asked him twice.
answering direct questions and staying on topic seems to be a common problem for trump and his supporters...
But of course, just like the magats here there and everywhere else - PD&D+delusion.
The question about Jan 6th was weak. CNN did a terrible job. Trump should demand they conduct every debate.
Why didn't they ask him what he was doing on 1/6? The lies about Nancy Pelosi. Why they didn't shoot down that ignorant late term abortion - killing the child in the 8th or 9th month - killing it after it's born - sheer ignorant lies and, I don't have the words for such ignorance, such lies, such hate - and nothing but lies - when does the steaming POS tell the truth though? Except through projection.
I actually had some maga goober-skank uber driver tell me trump voided the liberal abortion law that gave parents the right to have their newborn aborted within 3 months after it was born...
We live in an idiocracy and are mostly in denial about it.
Nuttier than fucking fruitcakes.
JFC
too bad their parents didn't do that with that moron right?
I blame democrats for creating medicare and safety regulations that cheated morons out of their natural selection destiny...
Trump actually said that Democrats would allow babies to be killed after birth. I-N-S-A-N-E
That ignorance has been spread by #34 and many here right here on NT for YEARS and YEARS.
Yep, attacking the moderators appears to be emerging as the Democrats' tactic to try to shift attention back onto Trump. But we've heard Trump make these kinds of outlandish claims and statements for the last eight years. Fact checking won't change the public's perception of Trump.
IMO the 'fact check' tactic has lost a lot of its effectiveness. Trump has been impeached, investigated, raided, indicted, and even convicted. Trump has been 'fact checked' for eight years and now its just more of the same. But all of Democrats time, money, and effort to make 2024 a referendum on Trump really has lost a lot of momentum because of Biden's debate performance.
Joe Biden really is the President. And Donald Trump really did remind voters that the 2024 election is a referendum on Biden's Presidency. Joe Biden really did upset Democrats' plans to make 2024 a referendum on Trump. The public has grown numb for fact checking Trump and that's not going to move the needle as much any more.
The next problem for Democrats will be Trump's VP pick which undoubtedly will capture the news cycle for a time. And that raises questions about whether or not there will be VP debates. For this election, the VP candidates for both parties really could become the next President. So, be prepared for a Republican VP candidate that will either be chosen by Trump or by Republican delegates at the RNC convention. This time the selection of a Republican VP candidate is going to be unconventional, may be rather dramatic, and will likely suck all the air out of the news cycle for a time.
biden having a less than expected showing was a lucky break for maga morons. too bad trump will forever be a clueless liar, not to mention the perfect representative for hypocritical evangelicals...
Was it luck? Trump clearly had a debate strategy of attacking Biden's policies and actions as President. You know, even the CNN moderators commented that Trump showed restraint in attacking Biden's age and obvious physical condition.
What I saw in the media's hyping of the debate was a battle for who would remain the focus of attention. The debate was either going to ensure 2024 would be referendum on Trump or would shift to a referendum on Biden. Biden failed to keep attention focused on Trump. Biden had to spend time defending his own record without sounding like he had adopted Trump's policies. And from the media reaction to the debate it does appear that Trump succeeded in shifting the discussion toward Biden.
I think many of us actually expected less from him.
Hus performance was lackluster and brought up legitimate questions about his mental faculties.
... as opposed to trump's performance that verified his total lack of character and the integrity required to hold the office.
Thank you for that, I have been saying both are unfit!
... but no comment on his support by evangelicals.
Why would I care if Evangelicals support anyone?
I am not obsessed with them and never lose sleep over them or dream of killing me some!
It’s not the moderators’ job to fact check Trump. It’s Biden’s job. His failure to do so - his inability to do so - is strong evidence that he should not be president anymore.
If they want to have a shred of credibility it is. CNN made a mockery of it.
Why should Biden spend all of his time debunking Trumps lies (and it would take all of his time)? The moderators should do it out of neutral time.
My thoughts as well. That's not why Biden was there - to fact check and debunk the endless ignorant and hateful lies from #34
For a better debate performance.
According to cnn talking head today trump made 30 false claims and biden made 9.
No. Who should be better equipped to debunk lies about the country? A debate moderator? Or the President of the United States?
You don’t need to parry them all. Since you only have a minute or two, you pick one. Then you remind America that,
“this liar is a convicted felon - convicted of fraud. 34 times! With more cases pending. He’s such a prolific liar that it’s actually criminal and it blows my mind that any of you would listen to this liar.”
And I would do this with Every. Last. Fucking. Question. Debunk a lie and then remind America they are listening to a criminal liar. Debunk, Humiliate, Repeat. All night long.
That’s how you win a debate against that lunatic.
So true John. But when it comes to the gop, when is it a fair fight?
I agree 100%.
As poor as Biden's performance was it certainly was not a good look for Trump last night who showed the world again what a lying monster he is.
When it comes to golfing, he's worse than that Judge in Caddyshack
I have to wonder how many of the undecided could recognize his lies. That is a big problem.
meh, at least they probably have one up mentally on trump's brainless sycophants...
According to tge CNN polls last night, looked like more folks recognized Biden's frailty.
I do not doubt that at all, Biden behaved like a very old man.
Remaining ... I have to wonder how many of the undecided could recognize Trump's lies
If you look at the "Bolded" topics in this seed none where flat out lies, embellishments, yes. Biden told flat out lies, like, no troops dying anywhere.
Yeah, we know Biden lies too. He does not hold a candle to Trump, but he lies.
Remaining ... I have to wonder how many of the undecided could recognize Trump's lies.
Biden's big problem is his old-age behavior.
Trump's big problem is that he cannot be trusted to ever tell the truth about anything. And his lies are typically not just incidental but many times are whoppers ... outrageous.
According to the polls, it seems Biden's mental health is more bothersome.
Many of the undecided will miss at least some of the lies.
His loyal supporters either don't care, or would refuse to acknowledge that his lies are, in fact, lies. What is required is an opponent who can not only debunk those lies in a few sentences, but will also humiliate Trump for his ignorance, incompetence, and dishonesty.
Unfortunately, Joe Biden is not the man for that job. As president, he should be. Maybe ten years ago, he could have done it effectively, but it's beyond him now.
I felt the same way about John McCain, I supported him in 2000 but not in 2008.
Unfortunately, I cannot disagree.
You are trying to make excuses for, likely, the most prolific (and extreme) liar in public knowledge today.
According to cnn "fact checkers" trump told 30 lies to bidens 9.
3-1? Yet more proof of Biden's decline.... In his younger days, I'm sure he could have kept up.
How many times did he say his administration was the best in history?
I lost count .
meh, most of his supporters can't count that high anyway...