Trump and Biden’s dueling town halls | CNN Politics

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President Donald Trump sits during a break in his town-hall event in Miami on Thursday, October 15.
President Donald Trump sits during a break in his town-hall event in Miami on Thursday, October 15.
Evan Vucci/AP
Politics

In pictures: Trump and Biden’s dueling town halls

Updated 11:50 PM EDT, Thu October 15, 2020
Link Copied!

It was supposed to be a debate night between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden.

The two candidates were originally scheduled to meet face to face Thursday night and take questions from voters in a town-hall setting.

Instead, they held separate town halls.

The change came about after Trump was diagnosed with the coronavirus earlier this month. The Commission on Presidential Debates proposed a virtual debate, but Trump refused to take part and Biden went ahead with plans for his own town hall. Trump's campaign later arranged its own town hall — on a different network, during the same hour.

Trump's town hall took place at the Perez Art Museum in Miami. Biden's was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Photographers at Biden's town hall were not able to take photos during the entire event. Photographers at Trump's event were.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, sits across from ABC News' George Stephanopoulos before the start of his town-hall event in Philadelphia.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, sits across from ABC News' George Stephanopoulos before the start of his town-hall event in Philadelphia.
Tom Brenner/Reuters
Trump speaks at his town hall, which was hosted by NBC News' Savannah Guthrie.
Trump speaks at his town hall, which was hosted by NBC News' Savannah Guthrie.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Biden arrives for his town hall, which took place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Biden arrives for his town hall, which took place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Television monitors show both town halls at the Luv Child restaurant in Tampa, Florida.
Television monitors show both town halls at the Luv Child restaurant in Tampa, Florida.
Octavio Jones/Reuters
Guthrie speaks during Trump's town hall at the Perez Art Museum Miami.
Guthrie speaks during Trump's town hall at the Perez Art Museum Miami.
Evan Vucci/AP
People are spread out in the audience at Biden's town hall.
People are spread out in the audience at Biden's town hall.
Heidi Gutman/ABC/Getty Images
Trump has resumed campaign events in recent days. He was diagnosed with the coronavirus at the beginning of the month.
Trump has resumed campaign events in recent days. He was diagnosed with the coronavirus at the beginning of the month.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Biden and Stephanopoulos talk before the town hall in Philadelphia.
Biden and Stephanopoulos talk before the town hall in Philadelphia.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Biden spoke in measured tones during his more policy-heavy event. There was a <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2020%2F10%2F15%2Fpolitics%2Fnbc-abc-dueling-town-halls%2Findex.html" target="_blank">stark contrast</a> between his town hall and Trump's. From the very beginning of Trump's town hall, the President was an antagonistic participant, interrupting and criticizing the premise of questions from Guthrie — sometimes before she had even finished asking them.
Biden spoke in measured tones during his more policy-heavy event. There was a stark contrast between his town hall and Trump's. From the very beginning of Trump's town hall, the President was an antagonistic participant, interrupting and criticizing the premise of questions from Guthrie — sometimes before she had even finished asking them.
Heidi Gutman/ABC/Getty Images
People are spaced apart in Trump's audience.
People are spaced apart in Trump's audience.
Christopher Dilts/NBC News
Trump said he feels "good" after testing positive for Covid-19 only weeks ago. He also said he couldn't recall whether he was tested on the day of the first presidential debate.
Trump said he feels "good" after testing positive for Covid-19 only weeks ago. He also said he couldn't recall whether he was tested on the day of the first presidential debate.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Biden opened his town hall by describing how he would have handled the coronavirus differently than Trump.
Biden opened his town hall by describing how he would have handled the coronavirus differently than Trump.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Trump is seen during a break in his town hall.
Trump is seen during a break in his town hall.
Evan Vucci/AP
Biden and Stephanopoulos take the stage in Philadelphia. Biden's event was scheduled for 90 minutes — 30 more than Trump's.
Biden and Stephanopoulos take the stage in Philadelphia. Biden's event was scheduled for 90 minutes — 30 more than Trump's.
Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
After hesitating to make the commitment for weeks, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fpolitics%2Flive-news%2Fus-election-town-halls-10-15-20%2Fh_b95abafc2a2a56aa08ccd87036f4e676" target="_blank">Trump said he would accept a peaceful transfer of power</a> if he loses the election. But he continued to sow doubt on the election results.
After hesitating to make the commitment for weeks, Trump said he would accept a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election. But he continued to sow doubt on the election results.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Stephanopoulos prepares for the Biden town hall.
Stephanopoulos prepares for the Biden town hall.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Trump greets the crowd after his town hall was over.
Trump greets the crowd after his town hall was over.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Biden talks with an audience member after his town hall.
Biden talks with an audience member after his town hall.
Heidi Gutman/ABC/Getty Images

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