Trump news: President accuses Democrats of anti-Catholic bias at charity event after Biden speaks of his faith

Campaign rages at debates commission plans to add ‘structure’ to next events

Trump rows back and says he 'doesn't know who the Proud Boys are' after debate outrage

Donald Trump and Joe Biden gave back-to-back remarks at the 2020 Alfred E Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, broadcast virtually from New York, typically a tuxedo affair that during an election year features candidates delivering chummy remarks and discussions of faith during the Catholic charities fundraiser.

This year, the president accused his rival’s party of housing “anti-Catholic bigotry" as he pitched his Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, moments after Mr Biden invoked his own Catholic faith.

The former vice president spoke to the “hope and possibility” for America’s future as it emerges from the public health crisis.

Their appearances follows Tuesday’s chaotic debate, though the president’s campaign has pushed against the Commission for Presidential Debates plan to add more “structure” to the next rounds after the opener was marred by constant cross-talk and the president’s interruptions.

His campaign accused the nonpartisan committee of political bias and listed a number of unofficial online polls declaring the president the winner of the first debate. Fox News’ anchor Chris Wallace, who moderated the first debate between Mr Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden, said it was the president who “bears the primary responsibility for what happened.”

The White House was repeatedly asked to “unambiguously” denounce white supremacy, following remarks by the president at the debate urging nationalist gang the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during while he dodged demands to condemn white supremacism.

Republicans have distanced themselves from his remarks while the FBI warns that the election and pre-inaugural period could be potential for violent “flashpoint” among right-wing extremists.

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Key points:

• Trump issues partisan attacks on rival party at Catholic fundraiser
• White House asked to denounce white supremacy group
• President attacks Ilhan Omar as crowd chants ‘Lock her up!’
• Trump U-turns on Proud Boys and claims not to know who they are
• Brad Parscale leaves re-election campaign after arrest
• Presidential debate rules to be redrawn after Tuesday’s toxic bout

[2 October 2020 00:41 · Alex Woodward]

Trump uses speech for partisan attacks against Democrats

Reminding his audience of his SCOTUS pick Amy Coney Barrett, Donald Trump accused Democrats of housing “anti-Democratic bigotry” and suggested attacks are underway against his nominee.

Democrats also nominated Joe Biden, who is Catholic, as their candidate.

The president invoked his SCOTUS nominee as he stressed his opposition to abortion, suggesting that Judge Barrett would support anti-abortion efforts.

[2 October 2020 01:09 · Alex Woodward]

We’re closing today’s live coverage of the Trump administration and 2020 campaign.

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