President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden squared off in the final presidential debate over the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Republican incumbent asserting that the country is “rounding the corner” and that a vaccine is to be announced within weeks.
In the second face to face debate between the candidates, Trump sought to combat suggestions that his administration bungled the response to the deadline pandemic.
“We closed up the greatest economy in the world to fight this horrible disease that came from China,” Trump said from the stage at Nashville’s Curb Event Center. “We have a vaccine that is coming — it’s ready. It’s going to be announced within weeks.” Pressed by debate moderator Kristen Welker of NBC News, Trump said the vaccine would be coming from Johnson & Johnson.
Biden cast shade on Trump’s assertions. “This is the same fellow who said it was going to be gone by Easter,” he said.
Trump and Biden also jousted over the state of New York City. Trump lamented the impact of the pandemic shutdown on his hometown. “What’s happened to my wonderful city? It’s dying. Everyone’s leaving New York,” Trump said.
To Trump’s defensiveness on coronavirus, Biden responded: “We ought to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.”
More to come
