Father Dunkin decided to host a debate watch party in the church rec hall and invited Anni and her friends. The atmosphere was lively, with everyone bringing their favorite treats. Father Dunkin kept everyone entertained with funny things he remembered from past presidential debates. Anni thought it would be fun if everyone jotted down their impressions and fact-check the candidates as they watched the debate between Biden and Trump.
As the debate kicked off, there were gasps from the group. Anni thought to herself, "Biden seems so old and unfit, while Trump acts like a carnival barker. This is disturbing."
Throughout the debate, everyone took notes, and afterward, they compared their observations.
"This is horrible," someone said. "Are these really our choices?"
"I'm afraid so," Father Dunkin replied.
"Let's hope one or both drop out before the election," another chimed in.
The group noted that both Biden and Trump made numerous false claims—though Trump's tally was notably higher.
Anni compiled the group's findings:
Trump made over 30 false claims during the debate, many of which have been debunked in the past.
Biden made at least nine false or misleading claims during the debate.
Some specific claims and their corrections include:
Trump on Abortion Policy after Roe v. Wade: He claimed "everybody" wanted Roe v. Wade overturned, which is false as most Americans wanted it preserved.
Trump on Democrats Killing Babies "After Birth": He claimed Democrats kill babies in late pregnancy or after birth, which is false as infanticide is illegal in all 50 states and late-term abortions are very rare.
Trump on His Comments about US Military Members Killed in Action: He denied calling military members "suckers" and "losers," but this is disputed with multiple sources confirming he made such remarks.
Biden on His Record as Commander-in-Chief: He claimed no US troops died abroad during his presidency, which is false as US service members have died abroad during his presidency.
Trump on Politicians Using the Term "Super Predators": He claimed Biden called Black people "super predators," which is false as Biden never used that term.
Trump on Iran's Funding for Hamas: He claimed Iran had no money for Hamas during his presidency, which is false as Iran continued funding terror groups despite economic difficulties.
Biden on Drug Prices: He claimed insulin costs $15 and no senior pays more than $200 for any drug, which is inaccurate as insulin costs are capped at $35 per month, and the $2,000 cap on drug costs starts in 2025.
Biden on Border Crossings Dropping: He claimed border crossings dropped 40%, which is misleading as while there was a recent drop, overall crossings were lower during Trump's tenure.
Biden on Support from the Border Patrol Union: He claimed the Border Patrol union endorsed him, which is misleading as the union supported a bipartisan border deal but did not endorse Biden.
Trump on the National Guard in Minneapolis: He claimed he deployed the National Guard to Minneapolis in 2020, which is false as Minnesota's governor deployed the Guard, not Trump.
YOU ARE READING
Will Democracy Survive
General FictionThis is a fictional story based on a many actual events both historical and current. Join Anni on a journey through the heart of Florida's ideological battlegrounds as she investigates the roots of school book bans and anti-woke policies. In a state...
