Intense analysis and verifications following the presidential debate: Falsehoods and criticisms of moderators

The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden has been the subject of intense analysis and fact-checking by the BBC's fact-checking unit, BBC Verify, which has identified multiple falsehoods and inconsistencies in the statements of both candidates. This confrontation revolved around crucial topics such as the economy, abortion, immigration, and taxes, on which Trump and Biden exchanged statements in an attempt to capture the attention of voters ahead of the November presidential elections in the United States. One of Trump's accusations was directed at Biden, whom he accused of being behind the criminal trial that led to his recent conviction in New York for a case of falsifying documents to hide payments to actress Stormy Daniels. However, the verdict from BBC Verify debunked this claim by pointing out that the case was brought by New York prosecutors, not federal authorities, discrediting Trump's accusation. Regarding the abortion issue, Trump misrepresented the framework established by the Roe v Wade law by falsely claiming that Biden was willing to allow abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy. The reality is that the law only allows regulations in the second and third trimesters under specific circumstances, debunking the president's statements. In relation to immigration, Biden stated that he has managed to reduce by 40% the number of people crossing the border illegally, a claim mostly true according to internal data from the Department of Homeland Security. This reduction has occurred since Biden pushed for regulations to restrict asylum at the border. Another statement subject to fact-checking was Biden's claim of no troop deaths anywhere in the world during his term, which was refuted by the BBC citing cases of soldiers who died under his presidency, including a drone strike in Jordan and an attack in Kabul during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. On the economic front, Trump accused Biden of having the largest deficit in the country's history, a claim refuted by U.S. Treasury data showing that the deficit peaked during Trump's presidency. Regarding taxes, Trump exaggerated by claiming that Biden plans to quadruple them, when in reality his budget proposes cuts for most families. Regarding unemployment among African Americans, both administrations have recorded record declines at different times, so the claims of both candidates should be analyzed in context. Finally, on the issue of inflation, although Trump pointed to an increase during Biden's term, data shows that inflation has decreased from its peak and is currently at a lower level. In addition to the falsehoods detected in the candidates' statements, the lack of intervention by the CNN moderators during the debate has been criticized. Although they were expected to act as questioners, they did not challenge or question the incorrect statements made by Trump and Biden, creating an environment conducive to the spread of misinformation without correction. In summary, the first presidential debate between Trump and Biden exposed falsehoods and inconsistencies in the statements of both candidates, highlighting the importance of fact-checking in such a polarized political context. The lack of intervention by the moderators allowed incorrect statements to go unchallenged, underscoring the need for greater control and verification of information in these crucial scenarios for democracy.