Joe Biden mocked Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus and the president’s suggestion people injected themselves with bleach to combat it.
“This is the same man who told you by Easter it would be gone away,” said Mr Biden after the president claimed his rival would have done much worse fighting Covid-19.
“By the warm weather it would be gone, like a miracle.
“And by the way, maybe you can inject some bleach into your arm, that would take care of it.”
Mr Trump angrily told his opponent that he had been ‘sarcastic’ when he talked about bleach.
"That was said sarcastically and you know it. That was said sarcastically,” said Mr Trump.
The candidates also clashed over the timing of a potential coronavirus vaccine, with the president saying it could be available earlier than his own experts think.
Mr Trump said he had spoken to the drug companies and had been told it Ould be available ‘a lot sooner’ than next summer.
The president also said that the vaccine would be delivered “right away’” as the military was ready to disperse it across America.
Meanwhile Mr Biden said Mr Trump had “panicked” and never provided a plan to combat the virus, which has now claimed more than 200,000 American lives.
Mr Trump defended his administration’s response and told his opponent he could not have done any better.
“We’ve done a great job,” Mr Trump said.
“But I tell you, Joe, you could never have done the job we’ve done. You don’t have it in your blood.”
