Debate Goes Awry: Candidates Clash Over National Debt, Job Creation and Insulin Costs

The national debt was a major topic of discussion during the CNN presidential debate, with Joe Biden and Donald Trump presenting differing opinions on the state of the economy. While Biden claimed that the U.S. economy was in freefall, Trump boasted about his handling of the pandemic and the country’s economic progress during his time in office.

According to data from the White House Office of Management and Budget, President Trump inherited a budget deficit of $585 billion, which grew to $984 billion in 2019 before reaching an unprecedented $3 trillion in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a May Gallup poll, nearly 30% of Americans identified the economy as their top concern, while over 10% cited inflation or high cost of living as their most pressing issues.

During the debate, both candidates made factual errors regarding job creation and insulin costs. Biden significantly underestimated job growth under his leadership, stating that only 15,000 jobs were created instead of over 15 million. He also incorrectly stated that insulin costs for older Americans on Medicare had been capped at $35 per vial instead of $35 per month as previously reported. Trump also made an error by claiming that the U.S. economy was on track to pay down its national debt before the pandemic hit, ignoring significant budget deficits that had accumulated during his time in office.