The highly anticipated first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Joe Biden and President Donald Trump is set to begin Tuesday night.
Though the debate hasn't even started, the President has continued a series of unconventional demands of Biden, from demanding he be tested for performance enhancing drugs to an ear inspection for potential microphones.
Biden's campaign didn't mince words when responding to Trump's calls for the drug test.
Vice President Biden intends to deliver his debate answers in words. If the president thinks his best case is made in urine he can have at it. We'd expect nothing less from Donald Trump, who pissed away the chance to protect the lives of 200K Americans when he didn't make a plan to stop [the virus]."
On the eve of the debate, Trump attempted to call out Biden for declining to take a drug test.
Joe Biden just announced that he will not agree to a Drug Test. Gee, I wonder why?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 28, 2020
The so-called evidence Trump cites for his claims that Biden is on some sort of intelligence boosting drug is an improved performance during the later debates of 2020's Democratic primary. Trump made the same demands of 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton during his first run for President.
Trump also demanded that Biden be inspected for potential listening devices, based on a right wing conspiracy theory that Biden's team intends to use them to feed him answers.
The Trump campaign soon sent out an alert.
New push alert on Trump campaign app pic.twitter.com/ncpm5jVQSr
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) September 29, 2020
People largely mocked Trump for the demands.
JUST IN: Joe Biden refuses to take a pregnancy test prior to tonight's debate. The question remains: What is he hiding?
Developing.
— YS (@NYinLA2121) September 29, 2020
Joe Biden REFUSES to deny that he is an IBM supercomputer sealed inside of a Japanese human suit
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) September 29, 2020
Breaking: Joe Biden REFUSES to let Donald Trump inspect his wallet—what's he hiding??? https://t.co/jFp0y9kPBY
— jordan (@JordanUhl) September 29, 2020
JOE BIDEN REFUSES TO BE PROBED BY ALIENS BEFORE DEBATE WHAT IS HE HIDING?
— 5-StarState (@5Starstate) September 29, 2020
BREAKING: Joe Biden refuses to release his midi-chlorian count. What is he hiding???
— Seán McCann (@mac_sean14) September 29, 2020
They didn't let up.
Absolutely incandescent with rage over Biden brazenly flouting the sacred tradition of a pre-debate earhole inspection. https://t.co/PqS0zH3NCj
— Joe Berkowitz (@JoeBerkowitz) September 29, 2020
Trump is just absurdly desperate: throw out any gimmick & see what sticks. That's the real story here.
My guess is his campaign people know he hasn't prepped, and he's so far behind that just winging it, as he usually does, is blowing the opportunity of the debates to catch up. https://t.co/nejL2n1jjY
— Robert E Kelly (@Robert_E_Kelly) September 29, 2020
is "biden, take a drug test" the new "show us the long form birth certificate?"
because wow is this a dumb year https://t.co/q04HqTN8Ok
— Gerry Doyle (@mgerrydoyle) September 29, 2020
Might as well start the morning with lies given that is the strategy for the rest of the day https://t.co/g3UminKlgb
— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) September 29, 2020
The first presidential debate will be moderated by Chris Wallace of Fox News. It starts at 9pm Eastern Time and airs on every major news channel.