It has been a long campaign. We have enjoyed (and at times dreaded ) nine Democratic primary debates, twelve Republican primary debates, three general election debates, and even one veep-fest. We’ve learned. We’ve laughed. We’ve cringed. We’ve cursed. And we’ve tweeted.
So, for the final time in 2016, here are the best tweets of the presidential debate!
Let’s get this final night of American Horror Story: Freak Show started. #debatenight pic.twitter.com/T9vu8W01wS
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) October 20, 2016
The debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton was moderated by Fox News’s Chris Wallace, who kept things in order from the start.
Chris Wallace: you’re gonna want to cheer
Crowd: WHEW HELL YEAH-
Chris: don’t…And if you want to boo, also don’t do that
Crowd: BOOOOOO— rudy mustang (@roostermustache) October 20, 2016
MODERATOR: this is a serious debate, and we’d like you to behave with decorum
AUDIENCE: [gouging out each other’s eyes; suicide bombings]— Sam Kriss (@sam_kriss) October 20, 2016
Wallace started with substantive policy questions. The first was on the composition and duties of the Supreme Court.
OMG a substantive question about the Courts and the Constitution.
— Randy Barnett (@RandyEBarnett) October 20, 2016
Clinton’s answer danced around the issues.
Hillary Clinton is asked about originalism v. living constitution. She is doing a masterful job of not answering the question.
— (((Megan McArdle))) (@asymmetricinfo) October 20, 2016
Hillary only invoked the Constitution ONCE, in the context of confirming Garland. Unbelievable.
— Mitch Hall (@mitchhallwm) October 20, 2016
Hillary, what do you think about the Founders’ words?
Well, abortion. And also Citizens United.— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) October 20, 2016
Clinton and her supporters rightfully take advantage of the natural freedoms confirmed by Citizens United every day.
— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) October 20, 2016
Trump took it more personally, but eventually got to the point.
The candidates were asked about the Constitution and originalism. Trump responds by saying that RBG insulted him.
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) October 20, 2016
Look, the Supreme Court. We need a court that won’t criticize me.
— Farhad Manjoo (@fmanjoo) October 20, 2016
Trump uses the word Constitution more in this answer than he has in most of the rest of the campaign. It wasn’t conspicuous in HRC’s answer.
— Daniel McCarthy (@ToryAnarchist) October 20, 2016
Donald Trump is the living embodiment of a college paper triple spaced with a large font to reach the required number of pages.
— Andrew Ungvari (@DrewUnga) October 20, 2016
Wallace continued in a similar vein, asking the candidates about guns and the Second Amendment.
The first “Pinnochio Moment” of the debate is by Hillary, in declaring that she “supports the Second Amendment.”
— Bob Barr (@bobbarr) October 20, 2016
Hillary: I support the 2nd amendment. I respect it. I just want to gut it because I love it so much. And it must be stopped because shut up.
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 20, 2016
Wallace asks HRC what is wrong with Heller decision protecting individual right to keep and bear arms. She says the ruling kills toddlers?
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 20, 2016
The words “child” and “toddler” appear nowhere in either the Heller decision, or the dissent.
— (((Megan McArdle))) (@asymmetricinfo) October 20, 2016
Heller, the namesake of the Heller case, is a cop who was denied a gun permit by D.C. officials. Not a toddler. https://t.co/ls7puEjqb8
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) October 20, 2016
Trump getting hit for opposing assault weapons bans he has supported.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) October 20, 2016
They next addressed the issue of abortion.
Wallace: Do you want Roe v Wade overturned?
Trump: It’ll go back to the states.
Wallace: But do you want it overturned?
Trump: Automatically— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 20, 2016
I believe Trump wants to overturn Roe v Wade like I believe Hillary loves the 2nd Amendment.
— John Schindler (@20committee) October 20, 2016
Hillary is very skilled at not saying “abortion.”
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) October 20, 2016
Hillary is pretty selective on deference to precedent, no?
— Kevin D. Williamson (@KevinNR) October 20, 2016
“Toddlers kill people. Let’s abort them instead” – @HillaryClinton #debate
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) October 20, 2016
Trump on fetuses: In 20 years, they’ll be dating me!
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) October 20, 2016
So far, things were going well. The candidates were discussing their disagreements in a calm, professional manner.
Chris Wallace is doing well. I think starting with substance rather than the latest Trumpsanity was wise.
— Neil Irwin (@Neil_Irwin) October 20, 2016
It had to end.
Trump’s starting to get warmed up…voice is rising…energy level up a notch pic.twitter.com/fOUg0xhmUM
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) October 20, 2016
Although it was an important topic with many Americans, the debates had hardly discussed immigration. Until now.
Trump on immigration: “We have some bad hombres here, and we’re going to get them out” #debatenight https://t.co/H9n7JKbYS7 pic.twitter.com/izb0KyXFDp
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 20, 2016
“We’ve got to do something about these bad hombres.” #debatenight pic.twitter.com/diPhtJliya
— Missy Baker (@TheMissyBaker) October 20, 2016
“Bad hombres!” Trump is ten minutes away from invoking Bad, Bad Leroy Brown #debatenight
— Stephen Silver (@StephenSilver) October 20, 2016
Bad Hombres is also the name of Donald’s fantasy football team.
— Jack Kogod (@Unsilent) October 20, 2016
Clinton turned the conversation from the 1967 Paul Newman film to the effects of mass deportation.
A girl was so terrified of her parents being deported, that she shared that with a presidential candidate, according to Hillary Clinton.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 20, 2016
Clinton: Anyone who should be deported, we should deport them. But no one should be deported.
— (((Megan McArdle))) (@asymmetricinfo) October 20, 2016
“I don’t want to rip families apart. Just little babies.” — Hillary
— Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) October 20, 2016
It would rip our country apart. Like a baby.
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) October 20, 2016
Trump said that Clinton and Obama actually liked deporting people.
Trump almost baited her into saying "YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I ORDERED THE BORDER WALL"
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) October 20, 2016
Trump just said Obama has been deporting millions of people … but he's also accused Obama of open borders.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 20, 2016
Trump: Obama has deported illegals bigly.
— Brandt (@UrbanAchievr) October 20, 2016
Stop trying to make bigly happen pic.twitter.com/ItXSgBYqzc
— Jeb Boone (@JebBoone) October 20, 2016
I an sad that Trump isn't actually saying bigly.
— Tom Zwilling (@Thomas_Zwilling) October 20, 2016
tonights real debate is about whether he's saying "big league" or "bigly"
— jon hendren (@fart) October 20, 2016
(It’s “big league.”) Trump mentioned Clinton’s support of open borders in the WikiLeaks transcripts of her Wall Street speeches. Wallace followed up, and she replied that WikiLeaks was bad.
“Is that your dream: open borders?” — Chris Wallace. “You only know that because Russians stole my speeches that I tried to keep hidden."
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 20, 2016
31 “Putin said nice things about me.” That *really* is what it comes down to from DJT.
He’s reverting to type now. Tranks wearing off— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) October 20, 2016
Clinton insisted that Trump was a puppet of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump disagreed.
"No, YOU'RE the puppet!" Trump is five years old. He's tall for his age–it's confusing. But he's five.
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) October 20, 2016
YOU'RE THE PUPPET. pic.twitter.com/VD7RU2KMbt
— Sarah D. Lawson (@SlawSpeaks) October 20, 2016
They turned to taxes, the deficit, and their respective plans for economic growth.
Wow, @HillaryClinton actually claimed tax cuts reduce jobs. Is she ignorant of world evidence? https://t.co/ReRpVl7dZo #cato2016 #debate
— Dan Mitchell (@danieljmitchell) October 20, 2016
HOLY HELL HILLARY FOUND THE MAGICAL MONEY TREE SO WE HAVE LOWER DEBT W/O RAISING TAXES WHILE KILLING THE ECONOMY! #debatenight #FDRLST
— Joy Pullmann (@JoyPullmann) October 20, 2016
Trump: we're gonna renegotiate trade deals
Chris Wallace: good
Trump: we're gonna have only free trade
Chris: those things are opposites
— rudy mustang (@roostermustache) October 20, 2016
WALLACE: How can you deliver on your economic promise.
TRUMP: India & China are doing awesome.
WALLACE: How do you deliver?
TRUMP: NAFTA BAD— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 20, 2016
Wallace: What do you think about the economy?
Clinton: Funny you mention steel, your hotel has Chinese steel.
Trump: WHY DIDNT YOU STOP ME?!— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 20, 2016
On foreign policy, Clinton noted Trump’s statements casting doubt on our alliances. Trump denied saying them.
you love our allies so much donald? name three of their albums
— Josh Fruhlinger (@jfruh) October 20, 2016
Trump talks about NATO and every foreign country as if they're casinos he could bankrupt. #debatenight #NeverTrump
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) October 20, 2016
Inevitably, the continuing allegations of Trump’s sexual misconduct became an issue.
Alex Jones at the sexual assault question right now… #debate pic.twitter.com/yxruUgoXw7
— Secular Talk (@KyleKulinski) October 20, 2016
"I didn't even apologize to my wife because I didn't do anything" is not a particularly compelling argument
— John Tabin (@johntabin) October 20, 2016
"Nobody has more respect for women than I do." The crowd titters. Chris Wallace: "Quiet, everybody."
— Lili Loofbourow (@Millicentsomer) October 20, 2016
Trying to figure out how to bring up Hillary's emails like: pic.twitter.com/sYqFSc5gyJ
— Sam Stryker (@sbstryker) October 20, 2016
The Clinton Foundation and its entanglement with the State Department also featured in Wallace’s questioning.
Trump landing Clinton Foundation blows. He's right it's a disgrace.
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) October 20, 2016
Clinton: I'm so proud of the work the Clinton Foundation did (to help me get elected). #debatenight
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) October 20, 2016
Word salad Hillary running out the clock
— Elizabeth Scalia (@TheAnchoress) October 20, 2016
Which inevitably led to questions about the Trump Foundation and Trump’s murky tax situation.
WALLACE: Wasn't some of the Trump Foundation money used to settle your lawsuits?
TRUMP: We raised a beautiful American flag
— Matt Ford (@fordm) October 20, 2016
Trump: You should have changed the law so I couldn't pull what I pulled on my taxes.
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) October 20, 2016
Wallace asked both candidates (but mostly Trump) whether they would abide by the results of the election.
Peaceful transition of power? I'll keep you in suspense!
— Lee Konstantinou (@LKonstan) October 20, 2016
Generalisimmo El Bad Hombre Trumpo won't accept your steenking election results! #BadHombre #DebateNight
— Mexican Judge (@laloalcaraz) October 20, 2016
Trump still hasn't accepted the results of the 2013 Emmys. Sad! #debate #debatenight
— Richard Hine (@richardhine) October 20, 2016
Hillary actually shows some passion accusing Trump of being an Al Gore type sore loser.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) October 20, 2016
Trump was asked about Aleppo and seemed confused.
Hillary eloquently explains foreign affairs; Trump explains #Mosul like someone explained it to him. And a 5 year old. #Debates2016
— Christina Schriver (@burningkarma) October 20, 2016
What’s pathetic about this debate is if it was Rubio or even Cruz on the debate stage this wouldn’t even be close. She’s awful. #Debates
— Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) October 20, 2016
Oh, man–Trump wheels off here
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) October 20, 2016
Trump after he answers a question pic.twitter.com/qFP5zyGGDW
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) October 20, 2016
Hillary: Syrian babies get hurt
Trump: abortion kills babies
Hillary:we need to educate our babies
Trump: Mexicans give our babies heroin
— rudy mustang (@roostermustache) October 20, 2016
Clinton got a question about whether she would enforce a no-fly zone in Syria, even if Russia were the nation to violate it. She hedged, but ultimately answered.
Fuck yeah she shoots it down. America is back.
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) October 20, 2016
They closed with a question on the increasing national debt, which both candidates promised they would totally reduce.
Wallace on national debt: "why are both of you ignoring this problem?"
love it
— Jon Ward (@jonward11) October 20, 2016
WALLACE: Why are you ignoring the debt?
TRUMP: We're going to create tremendous jobs.
WALLACE: About the debt?
TRUMP: My plan is so good.— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 20, 2016
"I want to invest in you" .. "unless you make money or run a company, then I will bleed you like a pig." – HRC #debate
— Amy (@AmyOtto8) October 20, 2016
Trump's two biggest areas of knowledge: debt and entitlement. #debate
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) October 20, 2016
"She wants to make it even worse, and it can't get any worse." So, she won't make it worse?
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) October 20, 2016
trump: this quiz sucks. how does she know the answers to all the questions already. its rigged.
wallace: the question was about the economy— jomny sun (@jonnysun) October 20, 2016
The closed the debate, and brought this phase of the election to a close, as well. It’s been a hell of a year, and in the final assessment, Rod Dreher speaks for many of us:
OK, I'm done. And so is America for the next four years.
— Rod Dreher (@roddreher) October 20, 2016
