The Canceled Presidential Candidate Debates Did Not Stop The Mutual Action Between Trump And Biden

Illustration (Raga Granada / VOI)

JAKARTA - Joe Biden criticized Donald Trump with the phrase "panic response" to the President of the corona virus pandemic. On the other hand, Trump has defended himself about a crisis that has killed more than 216 thousand people in the United States (US).

Speaking as the Democratic presidential candidate, Biden appeared on television. The broadcast coincided with the broadcast of an event that Trump held in Miami.

The two spoke on Thursday, October 15, the date the two US presidential candidates should have had a virtual debate because of Trump's positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The virtual debate was canceled because Trump only wanted a face-to-face debate.

Launched by Reuters on Friday, October 16, this separate dispute gives a clear picture of the many ways to campaign that can be done during this COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign and the COVID-19 pandemic saw more than 18 million people in the US vote two weeks early before Election Day on November 3.

Biden, speaking to supporters in Philadelphia, blamed the Republican presidential candidate for hiding the deadly virus. "He said he didn't tell anyone because he was afraid the Americans would panic," said Biden. “Americans don't panic. He's the one who's panicked. "

Trump defended his response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as his personal behavior, including holding events at the White House. Only a few wore masks or exercised social distancing, which resulted in many attendees contracting COVID-19.

"Hey, I'm president. I have to see people. I can't be in the basement," Trump said while addressing an audience in Miami and broadcast on NBC. Implicitly, Trump criticized Biden for spending months off the campaign trail.

But Trump did not answer questions about when he last tested negative before catching the virus. Trump said he didn't remember exactly.

Trump, who aggressively interrupted Biden during a chaotic debate two weeks ago, has shown little interest in changing his hostile tone. He also frequently debates with the moderator of the event, Samantha Guthrie.

He said he "heard a different story" about the efficacy of wearing masks. Although public health experts in his own government say that wearing a mask is the key to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Trump also avoided questions about a two-decade New York Times investigation into his tax returns which he has refused to release publicly. But Trump indirectly confirmed the newspaper report that he had about $ 400 million in privately secured loans calling the amount "peanuts" rather than its value.

Trump also didn't deny reports that he only paid $ 750 in federal income tax during his first year at the White House. Even so, Trump said, at one point the numbers cited by the New York Times were wrong.

About 18.3 million Americans have voted, either in person or by mail so far. That number represents 12.9 percent of the total votes counted in the 2016 election, according to the US Election Project Team at the University of Florida.

Voters are trying to avoid direct queues on election days to stay safe as COVID-19 transmission and hospitalizations continue to increase. But voters also want authorities to make sure their ballots are counted.

Many fear Trump will oppose the ballot in the mail. This concern is perhaps reasonable given that since recently Trump has often said voters by mail are fake.