I want to get one thing clear: the presidential debate that took place last week could have easily passed as an SNL skit. From the playground insults to the feeble promises, there is a lot to talk about in regards to what happened last Tuesday, the 29th.

Typically, presidential debates are meant for undecided voters to hear each candidate’s platforms and why people should vote for them. During these debates, the candidates should adhere to the guidelines (no interrupting, being respectful, etc.) and stick to attacking the policies, not the person. However, come Tuesday, it appeared as if all morals were thrown out of the window. As a matter of fact, these morals were not only thrown out of the window but stomped on an extra few times and violently smashed into a wall. 

To address the elephant in the room, the number one issue that caused the debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden was not the moderator. It was not the doings of the “radical left.”  It was the constant interruption and the petty childhood insults being thrown around. 

According to Slate, President Trump interrupted Biden and moderator Chris Wallace a whopping 128 times combined. Trump went for low blows, such as attacking Biden’s dead son and, instead of promoting his policies, he boasted about how great the country is doing under him, how he has done more for the American people than any other president, etc.  If at one point you are debating with the moderator, I do not think that you have successfully countered the other candidate’s attacks.

Weak points were made on both sides, and neither of them did a very good job convincing undecided voters to vote for them. However, one must take into account that Biden could not get a word in because of Trump’s constant interrupting, and how Biden has a stuttering disorder, therefore could not speak to the best of his abilities. 

Additionally, most of the things Trump claimed to have done or needs to be done is completely, utterly false. What stood out to me the most was when he said that we could combat climate change by just planting more trees or masks are not necessary to combat COVID-19. I would expect these words to come out of a child, but these words coming out of the President of the United States says a lot about how our country is being viewed globally. 

President Trump did also not make any selling promises to appeal to the minoritized. For instance, his claims about doing the “most to help African Americans” yet did not condemn white supremacy but rather told a white supremacist group to “stand by,” and used dog whistles like “law and order” and “protect the suburbs.”

I don’t know what I was expecting if I’m being honest. I knew it was not going to be good from the start, considering Trump’s presidential record and tendency to lie or make everything seem better than it is. Though I do reconcile how he was not this boastful or eager to interrupt back in 2016. Why? Because now he’s more afraid of losing the election than ever.