Mute Buttons and Malarkey: The Best Reactions to the Final 2020 Presidential Debate
This debate cycle has been anything but predictable. The first presidential debate was essentially lawless; the second presidential debate was canceled thanks to President Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis and refusal to participate in a virtual debate; and this final debate was... actually comprehensible. (If you missed it: After the unruly first debate, the Commission on Presidential Debates decided that each candidate's microphone would be muted while the other gave their two-minute statement at the top of each segment.)
On Thursday, NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker hosted the debate in Nashville, Tennessee, and led President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden in a discussion about the coronavirus pandemic, foreign relations, healthcare, minimum wage, the Trump administration's family separation policy, racial injustice, and climate change. Just a reminder: More than 45 million people have already voted in this election, and for what it's worth, this is the last presidential debate Trump will ever participate in.
Want to relive it all? Here are just a handful of the best reactions to the night's most viral moments.
On the debate's new mute button:
Yes or no — Aren’t we watching this in part just to see if the mute button is activated?
— julie k. brown (@jkbjournalist) October 23, 2020
Remember you also have your own mute button at home!!!
— PJ Vogt (@PJVogt) October 23, 2020
Your ballot is your mute button.
VOTE.— Ron Steslow (@RonSteslow) October 23, 2020
On Trump saying he'd love to be in a basement:
WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST LIVING IN A BASEMENT, PAL
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) October 23, 2020
Living in a basement? WHAT? #Debates2020
— Come Through with Rebecca Carroll (@rebel19) October 23, 2020
Honestly I want to go to whatever imaginary basement this man is talking about and hide there until this election is over #PresidentialDebate2020
— Arianna Davis (@ariannagdavis) October 23, 2020
Trump then saying New York is a ghost town:
New York isn't a ghost town, you clown
And it's not your city— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) October 23, 2020
He thinks New York is a ghost town because every time he’s here all he hears is “Booo” #Debates2020
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) October 23, 2020
everytime trump says new york is a ghost town 1,000 personal essays are born
— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) October 23, 2020
new york is a ghost town? i'm literally drunk tweeting rn bc i've come from a packed outdoor bar
— David Mack (@davidmackau) October 23, 2020
Trump saying he'd release his taxes, one day:
Once I release my tax returns, release my healthcare plan, and release the date of my last negative COVID test before my diagnosis, it’s over for you bitches.
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) October 23, 2020
We’ll see Trumps “beautiful “ healthcare plan the same day he releases his taxes.
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) October 23, 2020
BREAKING NEWS: Trump is going to release his taxes! Someday!
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 23, 2020
On Kristen Welker expertly handling the debate:
kristen welker said thank you next an ariana stan is in our midst
— ziwe (@ziwe) October 23, 2020
It’s extremely embarrassing for everyone who tried, unfairly, to discredit her that @kwelkernbc is by far the best debate moderator of the 2020 cycle.
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) October 23, 2020
Kristen Welker is doing an absolutely fantastic job.
Makes you bummed the only woman on the stage is the moderator.— Kate Smith (@byKateSmith) October 23, 2020
"But you're the president."
Kristen Welker showed up tonight.— Emma Gray (@emmaladyrose) October 23, 2020
Commander in chief. pic.twitter.com/PhDg6htv3V
— Alex Seitz-Wald (@aseitzwald) October 23, 2020
Trump saying he was the least racist person in the room:
I'm going to need a complete list of everyone in the room.
— Elizabeth Angell (@ElizabethAngell) October 23, 2020
I am the least racist person in the room says the most racist person in the room #DebateTonight
— reshmasaujani (@reshmasaujani) October 23, 2020
Pro-tip: the person who claims they are the least racist person is usually the most racist person in the room.
— Hillary Boucher (@hillaryboucher) October 23, 2020
“I’m the least racist person.” @kwelkernbc “Ok.” (screaming emoji)
— Evelyn Farkas (@EvelynNFarkas) October 23, 2020
I am screaming! @realDonaldTrump says “I am the least racist person.” And why did he says it is so dark he can’t see the people there? Was he looking for Black people in the crowd ? #debate2020
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) October 23, 2020
I wish there a rapid test to determine who the least racist person in that room is.
— Jenni Konner (@JenniKonner) October 23, 2020
And the word of the night:
Malarkey!
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 23, 2020
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