30 Notable Moments from the Second Presidential Debate from Hell

The second presidential debate, a town hall moderated by Martha Raddatz and Anderson Cooper (the first LGBT presidential debate moderator in American history), was full of shocking moments, and very few questions from the audience.

For Hillary Clinton, the goal of the debate was repeating her strong performance in the first presidential debate. For Donald Trump, it meant somehow recovering from his week from hell following the first debate, which included being hammered about his tax returns, and a leaked hot mic tape full of misogynistic comments that lost him several key endorsements.

Trump responded to the tapes by holding a press conference with Bill Clinton’s accusers before the debate, which set the tone for the rest of the night. Here are 30 of the most notable moments from the exhausting second debate.

1) Trump hinted at going completely nuclear during the debate by staging a press conference with Bill Clinton’s accusers 90 minutes before.

Donald Trump just gave us a likely preview of his debate strategy. (Brace yourself.) https://t.co/VRfrtl5FgS

— Collected News (@CollectedN) October 10, 2016

As if Donald Trump and his band of miscreants couldn't drive American politics any lower... this is his press conference right now. pic.twitter.com/O9aN5zl7ef

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) October 9, 2016

Old habits die hard. https://t.co/sBsZIqtWXO

— Daniella Bondar (@DaniellaRobin) October 10, 2016

THIS IS SO DISGUSTING. https://t.co/rDepfkGG0z

— Ilana Masad (@ilanaslightly)

October 10, 2016

The pre-debate press conference had Trump flanked by Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broaddrick, who have each accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault. Kathy Shelton was also present. As a lawyer, Hillary Clinton was appointed to serve as the attorney for Thomas Alfred Taylor, the man who raped Shelton when she was 12 years old.

2) They skipped the handshake.

No handshake! #debates

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) October 10, 2016

After Trump’s press conference, there was speculation that Hillary Clinton would skip the handshake. She did.

3) The candidates were asked if they were modeling appropriate behavior for children who were watching the debates

1st question: How the hell do we explain this bullshit to our kids?
Hillary: Don't vote for the hate clown #DrunkTweetTheDebates

— Ijeoma Oluo (@IjeomaOluo)

October 10, 2016

Clinton: I want to be the president for all Americans, heal our country and bring it together. #debates

— The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) October 10, 2016

The answer: Nope, nope, a thousand times nope.

4) There was more sniffling.

And Trump is sniffing again. #debates

— The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) October 10, 2016

So, never play a drinking game involving Trump’s sniffles, because you will die.

5) Anderson Cooper asked Trump if he understood that he bragged about sexually assaulting women.

Anderson: "You have bragged about sexually assaulting women.
Trump: "You don't understood what I said." #debates

— The Establishment (@ESTBLSHMNT) October 10, 2016

Trump: "I have great respect for women, nobody has more respect for women than I do?" I added the question mark. #debates

— Lucas Grindley (@lucasgrindley)

October 10, 2016

And women watching the debates were grateful for his direct question.

6) Hillary stated that she doesn’t think Trump is fit to serve as president.

"We have seen him insult women. We have seen him rank women on their appearance." - Clinton. Yes. #debatenight #Debates2016 #debate

— Ilana Masad (@ilanaslightly) October 10, 2016

But we all kind of knew that anyway.

7) "When they go low, you go high."

Clinton giving Michelle Obama her due when she quotes her! (cough Melania cough) #debatenight #Debates2016 #debate

— Ilana Masad (@ilanaslightly) October 10, 2016

Clinton refused to let the press conference rattle her, and quoted Michelle Obama: "When they go low, you go high."

8) Trump called Hillary the devil.

HE JUST LITERALLY CALLED HER THE DEVIL #debate #debates#debatenight

— The Establishment (@ESTBLSHMNT) October 10, 2016

But honestly, every time he talks we feel like we’re in hell.

9) Then he went full on tyrant and said she would be in jail if he was president.

This is what Trump supporters apparently want: "You'd be in jail," he tells Hillary Clinton. #debates First act as dictator.

— Lucas Grindley (@lucasgrindley) October 10, 2016

Fortunately, we’ll probably never see the day.

10) Hillary desperately tried to redirect the focus back to the issues.

"The way your campaign is exploding" Hillary went for the jugular #Debates2016

— Andrea García-Vargas (@AGVwrites) October 10, 2016

Clinton said Trump was just trying to divert attention from his exploding campaign before answering a question. Oh yeah, we almost forgot this was a town hall.

11) When Hillary offered to let an interrupting Donald answer first on an Obamacare question, he insisted she start, saying he was a gentleman.

"I'm a gentleman" claims Trump. The audience laughs. Hard. #debate #debatenight

— Bonnie Datt (@BonnieDatt) October 10, 2016

The audience’s appropriate response was laughter.

12) Trump got too close for comfort.

my 15 yo daughter says she feels afraid as trump stands behind hillary while she talks #debate #debate2016 #imwithher

— Lisa Oram (@orambrownmom) October 10, 2016

We were all pretty creeped out by his lurking.

13) Anderson Cooper earned praise from debate watchers.

Finally, a real moderator. Thanks for Anderson. #debatenight

— Cindy Crandall (@cindycrandall) October 10, 2016

Anderson Cooper on fire! #debates

— Daniella Bondar (@DaniellaRobin) October 10, 2016

Anderson Cooper has been a very forceful moderator and I love him for it. #debates

— Toni McIntyre (@ToniMacAttack) October 10, 2016

Though it was difficult to keep the sparring candidates on track, Cooper interjected with follow up questions, called out interruptions, and did his best to enforce time limits.

14) Trump and Clinton were asked about Islamophobia. Only one answer made any kind of sense.

Well this is going to be interesting. Does he have the balls to say this to someone's face? #DEBATES #2ndpresidentialdebate

— Krysten (@down_with_OTT) October 10, 2016

Trump thinks Islamophobia is a shame.
#DebateNight pic.twitter.com/kYWtV4e2RB

— Alex Blank Millard (@Hippoinatutu) October 10, 2016

While Trump focused on "radical Islamic terror," Clinton tried to reinforce that our country is not at war with an entire religion.

"We are not at war with #Islam..."

Thank you, @HillaryClinton. It's important that the American people understand this. #DebateNight

— Micah Morgan (@SpokenWorship) October 10, 2016

15) Trump said Captain Khan would be alive today if he’d been president.

Did he just suggest a fallen AMERICAN HERO WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY if he had been President? Are you FREAKING kidding me? #Debates2016

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) October 10, 2016

And if he were alive in 1865 and had tickets for the special box at the theater that night, Lincoln would still be alive today. #debates

— Cathleen Falsani (@godgrrl)

October 10, 2016

In one of the most disgusting moments of the debate (and there were so many to choose from), Trump dropped this totally bizarre statement.

16) Hillary appealed to empathy and humanity in her refugee answer.

"We are a country founded on religious freedom and liberty? How do we do what he (Trump) has suggested?" - Clinton #debate #Debates2016

— Ilana Masad (@ilanaslightly) October 10, 2016

Her genuine response to suffering contrasted with Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the country.

17) Trump rambled about Russia.

#Trump: "I know nothing about #Russia. Well I know about Russia. But I know nothing about Russia. SNIFF."#debate #debates #debatenight

— The Establishment (@ESTBLSHMNT) October 10, 2016

If you played any drinking game involving the word Russia during this debate, I am sorry, and rest in peace.

18) Hillary said Trump is living in an alternate reality.

Donald Trump lives in the alternate reality where women should be thrown away after 35 and spray tans are all the rage. #debates

— Daniella Bondar (@DaniellaRobin) October 10, 2016

Don’t we all feel like we’re living in an alternate reality at this point?

19) Trump admitted he hasn’t paid federal income tax.

Trump admits he has not paid federal income taxes. #debates #debatenight #debates2016 pic.twitter.com/uy1yh3JbN3

— DCHomos (@DCHomos) October 10, 2016

"Of course."

20) Trump blamed Clinton for not single handedly solving tax loopholes he took advantage of, and gave her an open to talk about everything she’s done as a politician.

Trump just gave Hillary 2 minutes to talk about EVERYTHING she has done for 30 years. #debate #debatenight

— Mara (@mindfulpolitico) October 10, 2016

He doesn’t seem to have the firmest grasp on how politics work in the United States.

21) Clinton used a rare interruption to fact check Trump.

On Syria:
Trump: You were there.
Hillary: No I wasn't.
Trump: OK, but you were still in touch.
What?#Debates2016

— Mat Rosa (@mat_says) October 10, 2016

"At some point we need to do some fact checking here." #HillaryClinton #debates

— Hafizah Geter (@RhetoricAndThis) October 10, 2016

Trump tends to do the vast majority of interrupting, but Clinton fact checked Trump on foreign policy—one of his (many) weak points as a candidate.

22) Trump asked "How stupid is our country?" in response to a question on foreign policy in Syria.

Did he just say? "How stupid is our country?"-Trump VERY IMPORTANT TO VOTE #presidentialdebate #Vote #Vote4America

— JOANNE (@ladygaga) October 10, 2016

You know, we’ve been wondering the same thing for different reasons.

23) Raddatz asked Trump if he disagreed with his running mate, and earned praise from viewers.

#Trump: #Pence and I haven't talked about this. I disagree with him. WE HAVE TO GET ISIS.#debate #debates #debatenight

— The Establishment (@ESTBLSHMNT)

October 10, 2016

.@MarthaRaddatz will not. give. up. THANK YOU. Finally, someone is holding him accountable for his nonsense. #Debates2016

— Katie (@realslimkatie) October 10, 2016

Surprise! He's not quite on the same page. 

24) Trump assumed a black voter could only be from the inner city.

I'm black and I don't live in the inner cities! #debate2016

— Courtney Robinson (@CourtnyRobinson) October 10, 2016

Again.

25) Hillary Clinton tried to unite undecided voters.

"If you don't #vote for me, I still want to be your president." ~@HillaryClinton#debate#debates#debatenight

— The Establishment (@ESTBLSHMNT) October 10, 2016

And actually managed to answer the question about how she would be devoted to all citizens as president.

26) She was then asked about her "basket of deplorable" comment, which many saw as divisive.

"My argument is not with his supporters, it's with him." #debates

— Cathleen Falsani (@godgrrl) October 10, 2016

After apologizing again, she turned the question back on Trump, saying her problem was with his hate speech.

27) Twitter came up and Twitter wasn’t happy.

"I didn't say 'check out sex tape!'" https://t.co/fvvHjlffJv

— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy)

This is presidential debate. We are seriously listening to a discussion of what was tweeted at 3am. #debate

— Andrea Judy (@judyblackcloud) October 10, 2016

Also, Trump forgot that his old tweets still exist again.

28) Hillary defended Roe v. Wade and marriage equality when talking about who she would nominate for the Supreme Court.

LOVING THIS #SCOTUS ANSWER by #clinton #debates

— phatimah (@phatimah)

October 10, 2016

In an election where LGBT voters have mostly been snubbed by candidates, the acknowledgement was nice.

29) Trump said he would appoint another Scalia.

Trump wants a judge like Scalia? Good lord. #debates pic.twitter.com/w9ky90O3Ba

— meya (@_m3ya) October 10, 2016

So enjoy those nightmares tonight.

30) The last question was the most difficult of the night: "What do you respect about your opponent?"

Twitter seems pretty split on "what do you respect about your opponent" is the best or worst question ever. #debates

— Lux Alptraum (@LuxAlptraum) October 10, 2016

Hahahahah I respect his children. She had to tip the barrel and scrape the bottom for that one. #debate

— Mindy Bush (@EmBee1979) October 10, 2016

Hillary praised Trump’s children.

Trump: "Hillary is a fighter and doesn't quit"#debates #debatenight #debates2016 pic.twitter.com/aTdE9cp6YE

— DCHomos (@DCHomos) October 10, 2016

Trump praised Hillary’s stamina. The irony was not lost on viewers.

The debate ended, and we all collectively sighed as we tried to figure out what issues had actually been discussed. It’s going to be a long month.