In preparation for the upcoming U.S. presidential elections on November 5, current President Joe Biden debated Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump on June 28. The debate was broadcast on CNN.
This debate is considered a historic event as it was not supervised by the U.S. Commission on Presidential Debates. It marks a first in American political history, bringing together a sitting president and a former president. The candidates discussed a wide range of pressing issues, outlining their positions and the laws they had implemented. They also shared their future plans for both domestic and foreign policies, covering topics such as healthcare, illegal immigration, concerns of Black Americans, abortion, and international conflicts like the Israeli war on Gaza Strip and the Russia-Ukraine War.
During the debate, each candidate criticized the other's governance and decisions. Upon investigation, Misbar found that both candidates used misleading information and made allegations. Here, we will review the most prominent of these claims.
Joe Biden Did Not Refer to Black Americans as “Predators” in 1994
In the context of Trump's remarks about Joe Biden's views and the laws he worked to implement for Black American citizens, he said, "What he has done to the Black population is horrible, including the fact that for 10 years he called them super predators. We can’t forget that in the 1990s. "Super predators" was his term. And he used it for 10 years, and they’ve taken great offense at it, and now they see it happening."
However, through research, Misbar found that current U.S. President Joe Biden did not refer to Black American citizens as “predators.” It was, in fact, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who used this term while promoting the 1994 crime bill at a conference at Keene University in New Hampshire. Clinton was referring to gangs similar to cartel gangs (drug dealers) and added that they must fight this type of crime.
Regarding current President Joe Biden, he used the term “predators” while speaking and promoting the 1994 crime bill in a speech at the U.S. Capitol on November 18, 1994. Biden did not specify a particular category of citizens during his discussion of the law, stating at the 1:32-minute mark of the video, “There are predators on our streets because we neglect them.”
Biden Claims That U.S. Border Patrol Personally Endorsed Him
During his discussion on the U.S.-Mexico border crisis and illegal immigration, current U.S. President Joe Biden claimed that the Border Patrol supported him, stating, 'By the way, the Border Patrol endorsed me, endorsed my position.'
However, Misbar found this claim to be inaccurate, as the Border Patrol endorsed the bipartisan border security bill supported by both the Republican and Democratic parties on February 5 of this year.
Brandon Judd, Chairman of the National Border Patrol Council, commented on the decision, stating, 'While not perfect, the Border Act of 2024 is a step in the right direction and is much better than the current status quo. For this reason, the National Border Patrol Council endorses this bill and hopes for its swift passage.'
In response to Biden’s claim that the U.S. National Border Patrol had personally supported him during the debate between Biden and Trump on June 28, the agency’s official “X” account posted a statement completely denying Biden's assertion. The statement affirmed that the agency has never endorsed Biden and will not do so in the future.
Biden Claims No American Soldier Died During His Tenure Worldwide
During his debate with former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden claimed to be 'the only president this century that doesn’t have any – this – this decade – doesn’t have any troops dying anywhere in the world, like he (former President Donald Trump) did.'
Misbar investigated this claim and found it to be inaccurate. Thirteen American soldiers were killed in Afghanistan during Biden’s presidency at the White House on August 27, 2021, in a suicide bombing at Kabul Airport, according to the Associated Press.
Additionally, three American soldiers were killed and 34 others injured on January 28 of this year due to a drone attack on an American base located northeast of Jordan on the border with Syria.
The family of Sergeant Darren Taylor Hoover Jr., a 31-year-old soldier killed in the Afghanistan attack, responded to Joe Biden’s claim during the debate. In an interview with Fox News Channel on June 29, the family stated that Sergeant Darren Taylor 'was preparing for his wedding when he was killed.' His father added that 'this was his third tour in Afghanistan.' They criticized President Joe Biden for denying the deaths of their son and his colleagues.
Trump Accuses Democrats of Advocating Late-Term and Post-Birth Fetal Destruction
During discussions about abortion laws, particularly those being pushed by Democrats, presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump claimed, 'The problem they (Democrats) have is they’re radical because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth.'
However, Misbar found that killing fetuses after birth constitutes a violation of American law in all states, as it is considered a crime known as 'Partial-Birth Abortion/Infanticide.'
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published on May 13 of this year, 'Nearly all abortions in 2021 took place early in gestation: 93.5% of abortions were performed at ≤13 weeks' gestation. A smaller number of abortions (5.7%) were performed between 14 and 20 weeks' gestation, and even fewer (0.9%) were performed at ≥21 weeks' gestation.'
No Threefold Increase in Food Prices During Biden Presidency
During his discussion on American economic issues, Donald Trump criticized the policies of current President Joe Biden, claiming that under Biden's administration, 'the cost of food has doubled, tripled, and quadrupled.'
However, upon verification, Misbar found that the increase in food prices during the Biden administration amounted to only 20%. According to the Consumer Price Index for 'food at home,' the cost per capita rose from 252.7 in January 2021 to 305, contradicting Donald Trump’s claim that prices had tripled and quadrupled. His assertion would imply a percentage increase of 300%, whereas the actual increase currently stands at 20%.
Terrorist Incidents Occurred Under Donald Trump, Contrary to His Claims
Donald Trump, a candidate in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, claimed that 'no terror at all [occurred] during my administration.'
Upon investigation by Misbar, those allegations were found to be misleading. On December 11, 2017, a 31-year-old Bangladeshi man named Akayad attempted to detonate a pipe bomb at a New York metro station, resulting in severe injuries to himself and three others. He was arrested on the same day and sentenced to life in prison on April 22, 2021. In his confessions, he admitted affiliation with ISIS.
On November 1, 2017, eight citizens were killed and 11 others injured in a terrorist attack in New York City when a truck driver ran over a crowded group of cyclists near the World Trade Center Memorial. The truck driver, Sayfullo Saipov, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
In the same context, Mohammad Saeed Al-Shamrani, a former officer in the Saudi Air Force, opened fire on three U.S. Navy officers, killing them and wounding eight others in December 2019 inside the Pensacola Naval Base in Florida.
At the time, investigations reported that the perpetrator of the operation attack was not affiliated with an Islamic group but rather adhered to jihadist ideology, as described by the investigations.
According to statistics from the University of Maryland's Global Terrorism Database website, data shows that there were approximately 220 terrorist operations between 2017 and 2020 during the Donald Trump administration without clear religious motives or connections to specific religious groups.
Is Trump the Worst President of the United States?
In the debate, current U.S. President Joe Biden described his opponent, Donald Trump, as the worst president in the history of the United States, according to publicly released data. He said, 'Presidential historians voted on who deserves the title of worst president in American history. From best to worst, they said Trump was the worst in all of American history.'
Misbar confirmed the claim to be true. A report titled 'Presidential Greatness Project Expert Poll' was published in early February this year. The poll aims to rank American presidents throughout history based on their performance in office. Current President Joe Biden ranked 14th with a score of 62.66 points. Donald Trump, on the other hand, ranked last with a score of only 11 points.
Incorrect Claim of 18 Million Crossings at u.s. Border During Biden’s Term
Former President Donald Trump claimed that nearly 18 million people crossed the U.S. border illegally during the tenure of current President Joe Biden.
However, according to figures released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, 9.3 million people were apprehended crossing the U.S. border illegally. When including those who were not apprehended by Border Patrol forces, the number rises to 11.4 million.
Trump Accuses Biden of Political Motives in Legal Proceedings
Donald Trump accused current President Joe Biden of personally referring him to the judiciary due to their electoral rivalry.
Misbar revealed that this claim is inaccurate. Investigations by the Manhattan District Attorney into Trump’s business records began before Biden assumed the White House in 2020. Moreover, the U.S. President does not have the authority to influence the decisions of state or federal prosecutors, as these matters are overseen by grand juries.
Nancy Pelosi Denies Responsibility for Capitol Events
On another note, presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed that Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, admitted responsibility for what became known as the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Upon closer examination, it became clear that this claim is misleading. Donald Trump pointed to a video of Pelosi, published on January 6, 2021, where she says, 'I take responsibility for not having them (the Capitol security forces) just prepared for more.' However, upon reviewing the video, Pelosi actually stated that she takes responsibility for not mobilizing the National Guard to protect the Capitol, rather than for the acts of rioting and vandalism at that time.
It should be noted that former President Donald Trump faces four criminal charges related to the riots and the attack by his supporters on the Capitol building on January 6, 2021. He is charged with conspiring against the United States, fraud to obstruct official proceedings, and conspiring against rights, as detailed in the charges against him in the investigation.
Read More
Study Shows That Most Americans Are Concerned With Fake News in the 2024 Elections
Reports Contradict Israeli Claims That Only 16 Percent of Gaza Has Been Destroyed
