PHOENIX (AP) 鈥� President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump without shaking hands and went right to mixing it up on policy Thursday night. Some key moments from their 90-minute faceoff.
Economic fireworks
Their first exchange delved into the economy.
Biden spoke softly, in a hoarse voice, as he talked up the economic gains on his watch, saying he rescued it from 鈥渇ree fall鈥� and 鈥渃haos鈥� when he took over the presidency from Trump in 2021. He cleared his throat several times.
Trump listened with a bemused expression but did not try to interrupt, though his microphone was muted while Biden spoke.
When it was his turn to speak, Trump bragged about the state of the economy during his term, saying 鈥渆verything was rocking good.鈥� He blamed Biden for rising prices that have frustrated Americans.
鈥淚nflation is killing our country,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淚t's absolutely killing us.鈥�
Abortion
Biden blamed Trump for eroding abortion rights after the Republican's three appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court voted to reverse Roe v. Wade, which had recognized a nationwide constitutional right to abortion. The reversal has energized many voters who support abortion rights and it helped power Democratic victories in the 2022 midterms and special elections.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a terrible thing what you鈥檝e done,鈥� Biden said, turning to his rival. He pledged to restore the law under Roe if given a second term but didn鈥檛 say how he鈥檇 accomplish that. He said the idea of turning abortion laws back to states 鈥渋s like saying we鈥檙e going to turn civil rights back to the states.鈥�
Trump said his presidency returned the issue of abortion to the people through state laws. He said he supports abortion ban exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, and he repeated his false claim that Biden supports abortion up to and after birth.
鈥淲e think the Democrats are the radicals, not the Republicans,鈥� Trump said.
Jonathan J. Cooper, The Associated Press
