'Fascist,' 'Demagogue,' 'Authoritarian': Profs react to Trump-Biden debate

The first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden drew criticism from professors around the country. But the criticism wasn’t just limited to Trump; it was also directed toward Biden for not embracing more far-left causes.

Rutgers University Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studie Associate Professor Brittney Cooper tweeted “Biden you killing me though. Support the #GreenNewDeal. Sh*t. This is why you can’t galvanize the left. Centrists are not the future. Trump is a fascist but if you can’t get young ppl to vote for you, a fascist is gonna win. Damn. #Debates2020”

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Biden you killing me though. Support the #GreenNewDeal. Shit. This is why you can’t galvanize the left. Centrists are not the future. Trump is a fascist but if you can’t get young ppl to vote for you, a fascist is gonna win. Damn. #Debates2020

— Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) September 30, 2020

Biden told voters during the debate, “The Green New Deal is not my plan” and “No, I don’t support the Green New Deal,” despite his own campaign website calling the Green New Deal a “crucial framework” for the goals behind his own plan. 

Campus Reform previously covered Cooper for several of her controversial statements, including saying “F*ck each and every Trump supporter” in a Twitter thread, in which she also alleged that Trump supporters are responsible for a disproportionate number of African Americans who have died from COVID-19. Cooper has also said that Christian conservatives worship an “a**hole”’ God and “white supremacist Jesus,” and alleged that black female obesity is directly tied to Trump’s policies.

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Stanford Political Science Professor Larry Diamond tweeted just moments after the debate ended that Trump is a “demagogue.”

Diamond said the media and  Biden should not “indulge” Trump in a second debate because he repeatedly interrupted Biden. Diamond went on to tweet that Trump is an “angry, authoritarian President.” 

“This was the worst presidential debate in US history another indication that Trump respects no rules and has no civility or respect for democracy. It was repulsive to watch this bullying spectacle,” said Diamond. “An angry, authoritarian President who won’t commit to accept the election results.”

This was the worst presidential debate in US history another indication that Trump respects no rules and has no civility or respect for democracy. It was repulsive to watch this bullying spectacle. An angry, authoritarian President who won’t commit to accept the election results.

— LarryDiamond (@LarryDiamond) September 30, 2020

Diamond told Campus Reform he referred to Trump as a “demagogue” because he is “a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power.” 

“This is what the president is doing now with regard to mail-in ballots, violence in the streets, and so much else. And the bullying nature of his posture in the debate,” he said, adding that he has “spelled out the case” as to why Trump is an “authoritarian president” in his book, Ill Winds. 

Campus Reform reached out to Cooper for further comment but did not receive a reply in time for publication. 

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @ashleyecarnahan