DEBATE 2020: Special 6-page section inside

Both Trump and Biden camps claim victory in first debate

Reaction, spin and USA TODAY fact checks, plus how rules are changing for future debates.

WASHINGTON – Allies of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden wasted little time trying to claim victory in their contentious, insult-laden first debate Tuesday, seeking to squeeze a win from a debate many described as frustrating.

“There was one leader on stage tonight and one liar,” asserted Kate Bedingfield, deputy campaign manager for the Biden campaign. “There was one president on the debate stage tonight, and it was not the person who flew on Air Force One.”

Trump’s response was low-key, especially compared with the combative performance he delivered onstage. As he flew back to Washington, he posted a tweet criticizing Biden and debate moderator Chris Wallace, suggesting he was debating both Biden and the wellknown Fox anchor at the same time.

Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh described the back-and-forth as a “free exchange of ideas” and a “free-flowing conversation” – and, naturally, said his guy won.

“The president was in command of every moment of that debate,” Murtaugh said.

Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel described Trump’s performance as “confident, commanding and compelling.”

Several experts argued there was no clear winner, given the president’s interruptions and personal attacks from both candidates.

“Nothing over the course of the evening likely did anything to alter the trajectory of such a static race,” said Aaron Kall, debate coach at the University of Michigan.

Despite the chaotic debate, marked by constant interrupting from Trump and clashes with the moderator, Bedingfield said Biden would take part in both the second and third debates planned for October. Some critics suggested further debates should be canceled if they were not going to offer Americans a clear discussion of policy.

“Joe Biden’s going to show up,” Bedingfield said. “He’s going to continue speaking directly to the American people.”

JIM WATSON/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES President Donald Trump, left, and Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, right, exchange arguments as moderator and Fox News anchor Chris Wallace raises his hands to stop them during the presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday.

MEG VOGEL/USA TODAY NETWORK Wallace explains the rules of the debate, agreed to by both campaigns, before Trump and Biden take the stage for their first presidential debate.

MEG VOGEL/USA TODAY NETWORK Guests listen to the presidential debate between Trump and Biden in the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion at the Cleveland Clinic.