The second presidential debate between candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump kicked off Sunday evening. The debate was highly anticipated by many, largely for its “town-hall format” in which candidates would have to answer questions not just from moderators but from undecided voters. James Pindell said in The Boston Globe that this would be “the most unpredictable debate ever.”
There were several OMG moments throughout the evening and Twitter didn’t miss a single one. If you missed the lively debate, these Tweets should catch you up.
Both candidates Tweeted before the debate, letting the Twitter-sphere know that they were excited to bring their A-Game
@realDonaldTrump & I earlier in motorcade en route to flight to St. Louis for debate. Photo credit: @MELANIATRUMP pic.twitter.com/xxFYh94Fkt
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) October 9, 2016
Let's go. #Debate pic.twitter.com/HD3ZVJ9xl8
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 10, 2016
There was already animosity in the air as Clinton and Trump stepped onto the stage … the candidates did not shake hands.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton did not shake hands – a first in modern presidential debate history.
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) October 10, 2016
No handshake. #debate pic.twitter.com/FzjhVXBdAU
— VICE News (@vicenews) October 10, 2016
Twitter blew up at Trump’s response to a question about the controversial audio leaked Friday of him having an extremely lewd conversation about women in 2005.
He justified his words by dismissing the conversation as “locker room talk.”
.@realDonaldTrump on tape: “This was locker room talk” https://t.co/BEJ9VO4XDs
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) October 10, 2016
the locker room=a metaphor for Male Space unfettered by social obligation; ie, respect for women is a tedious duty boys cast off when alone
— audrey wollen (@audreams) October 10, 2016
NO DONALD TRUMP IT IS NOT "JUST WORDS" IT IS PERPETUATING RAPE CULTURE IT IS OBJECTIFYING WOMEN IT IS NOT OKAY
— Kim Hubbard (@kimhubbard03) October 10, 2016
Then he took a bizarre, sharp right turn and deflected by talking about ISIS.
AC: Have you ever sexually assaulted women?
— dax shepard (@daxshepard1) October 10, 2016
Trump: ISIS. ISIS. ISIS.
Anderson Cooper: you groped women and touched their genitals, are you aware that was sexual assault?
— Kyriel Butler (@KyrielButler) October 10, 2016
Trump: ISIS #debate
"Mr. Trump, what is your favorite ice cream flavor?"
— Jimmy Wong (@jfwong) October 10, 2016
"ISIS. Bill Clinton." https://t.co/KNoYtiDrUt
Trump’s comments did not instill very much confidence among female voters in his ability to lead the nation.
Hillary is proof a woman can work hard, rise to the top of her field & still have to compete against a less qualified man for the same job.
— Erin Ruberry (@erinruberry) October 10, 2016
The statement that Hillary is "just as bad" as Trump is inherently privileged because you're not fearing for your life as a POC or woman
— Summer Bickley (@SummerBickley) October 10, 2016
Tonight, we were all this woman. #debate pic.twitter.com/or1jVVDhFx
— Femsplain (@femsplain) October 10, 2016
There were, however, several comments about Trump’s improvements from the last debate.
Trump does best when his mind is focused. He was bored the first debate. This debate he was pissed and on a mission.
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) October 10, 2016
One thing remained the same: his constant sniffling.
Haven't heard this much sniffling since Scarface.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 10, 2016
Trump should get that sniffling checked out before repealing Obamacare. #justsaying #debate
— Jerry James Stone (@jerryjamesstone) October 10, 2016
The sniffles were so prominent that Cory Doctorow started counting them...
Sniff 62 #debatetonight
— Cory Doctorow (@doctorow) October 10, 2016
Seasonal allergies may be coming at a very bad time for the Republican candidate, especially because of the recent controversy over Hillary Clinton’s health.
can you just IMAGINE if all of hillary’s statements were punctuated by a SNIFF? #debate
— Alex Bedder (@itgetsbedder) October 10, 2016
Every time there’s a *sniff* #debate pic.twitter.com/EYsVViee4m
— Mic (@mic) October 10, 2016
The sniffs even made it in one of Dan Wasserman’s live sketches.
Cartoonist Dan Wasserman is live sketching the #debate: https://t.co/zDKMVcuYMG pic.twitter.com/Yujrh9RTFp
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) October 10, 2016
Some said that Clinton displayed “Psycho”-style serenity when a fly hit her face, but Trump’s lurking may have been creepier.
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) October 10, 2016
This looks like a poster for a 1970s horror movie pic.twitter.com/vCVGrTLdte
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) October 10, 2016
Trump’s stance was almost alarming to some. It made Moustafa Bayoumi want to alert the authorities. His tweet took the cake for the most retweets during the debate.
I'm a Muslim, and I would like to report a crazy man threatening a woman on a stage in Missouri. #debate
— Moustafa Bayoumi (@BayoumiMoustafa) October 10, 2016
If viewers could take anything from the hour and a half debate, it might be these hilarious screen grabs.
Caption this. pic.twitter.com/a3jQ5tzTe9
— L.A. Times Politics (@latimespolitics) October 10, 2016
THUNDER ONLY HAPPENS WHEN ITS RAAAINING
— shereen (@delashereen) October 10, 2016
PLAYERS ONLY LOVE YOU WHEN THEYRE PLAYYYYINGG pic.twitter.com/jAQbDBSgdL
The mood of a culture. #Debate pic.twitter.com/8wgThzYQpE
— Todd Johnson (@rantoddj) October 10, 2016
Scary Halloween costume idea: Dress up like Trump, go to a party, and stand 3-5 feet behind successful women. pic.twitter.com/tz6STpkccQ
— erin chack (@ErinChack) October 10, 2016
