The Trump-Biden debate: falsehoods and controversies under the scrutiny of fact-checking verification

The recent presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden has generated controversy and criticism due to the multiple falsehoods and inconsistencies detected by the BBC's fact-checking unit, BBC Verify. During the encounter, the candidates addressed fundamental issues such as the economy, abortion, immigration, and taxes, however, the claims made by both have been subjected to rigorous analysis revealing the lack of truthfulness in several points. One of the most prominent points was Trump's accusation towards Biden for allegedly being behind a criminal case in New York related to payments to actress Stormy Daniels. BBC Verify debunked this claim, noting that the case was brought by New York prosecutors, not by a federal authority, contradicting Trump's version. Regarding the abortion issue, Trump accused Biden of supporting the possibility of "ripping the baby from the womb in the ninth month and killing it," which was deemed false by the fact-checking. The Roe v Wade law clearly establishes restrictions on the abortion process, making the president's statement inaccurate. Another point of contention was Biden's claim about the reduction of people crossing the border illegally during his term, which was mostly deemed true by BBC Verify, as there are data supporting a decrease in border crossings since the implementation of certain regulations. Regarding the deaths of American troops, Trump and Biden also exchanged contradictory statements. Biden claimed to be the only president in the last decade without troop deaths, which was refuted by cases that occurred during his term and that of his predecessor. Likewise, Trump pointed out a supposed tax increase proposed by Biden, a claim that is not supported by the current U.S. budget. Inflation was another point of discussion in the debate, with Trump accusing Biden of inheriting low inflation that has skyrocketed during his administration. However, data shows that inflation has fluctuated due to various factors beyond the president's control. It is important to note that the debate moderators, CNN's Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, adopted a hands-off approach, allowing the candidates to make false claims without being questioned in real time. This lack of fact-checking has been criticized by experts and journalists, who believe that the audience can be influenced by deceptive statements if they are not immediately corrected. In conclusion, the presidential debate between Trump and Biden has highlighted the importance of fact-checking and the need for a more active role by moderators to ensure transparency and truthfulness in political discourse. The falsehoods and inconsistencies detected underscore the importance of being informed and questioning the candidates' claims in such a crucial electoral process as that of the United States.