The 2020 presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump left a lasting impression due to its chaotic nature. As the country gears up for another potential showdown in November, one of the more surprising insights from that first debate comes from Barron Trump, Donald Trump’s youngest son.
At just 14 years old at the time, Barron reportedly expressed his disapproval of his father’s conduct, saying, “Dad, you were too tough. You didn’t have to keep interrupting him (Biden).” The debate echoed the tension of the 2016 clash between Trump and Hillary Clinton, during which moderator Chris Wallace struggled to prevent Trump from speaking out of turn.
Reflecting on his behavior in the 2020 debate, Donald Trump acknowledged the public criticism, stating, “People thought I was too belligerent.” The constant interruptions created a tense atmosphere, which even prompted Biden to respond with unusually sharp remarks like, “Will you shut up, man?” and “Come on, man.” These comments, while surprising for a presidential debate, reflected Biden’s frustration with Trump’s frequent interruptions, according to The Daily Mail.
In response to the chaotic nature of the first Trump-Biden debate, the Commission on Presidential Debates, a nonpartisan organization, introduced a mute button for the following debates. As reported by the BBC, the button allowed the debate producer (not the moderator) to turn off the microphone of the opposing candidate, ensuring each participant could answer questions without being interrupted.
This measure was introduced to maintain fairness and provide an uninterrupted platform for both candidates to speak. During the final debate, the audio for the candidate not speaking was muted until the other had finished responding. Donald Trump, however, was unhappy with the new format and accused Chris Wallace, the moderator of the first debate, of protecting Biden.
Trump claimed that Wallace deliberately prevented him from questioning Biden about his son, Hunter, and the alleged 2014 incident where the son of a Moscow mayor’s widow wired $3.5 million to Hunter Biden. Trump argued that Wallace’s actions favored Biden, casting doubt on the neutrality of the debate. A 2020 report by Republican senators delved into allegations surrounding Hunter Biden’s business dealings, particularly focusing on his activities in Ukraine, which became a focal point for Trump during the debates.