1st presidential debate between Trump and Biden spirals into chaotic clash

BIDEN'S CLAIM: Biden says 100 million Americans have pre-existing conditions, Trump says he's wrong

FACT CHECK: 100 million or more people have pre-existing conditions in the U.S.

Biden said during the debate that "100 million people" have pre-existing conditions, while Trump said that number was "totally wrong."

"There aren't 100 million people with pre-existing conditions," Trump said. The two candidates were debating about the path forward for health care in America.

Biden, who was arguing that Trump and Republicans would kick people with pre-existing conditions off of health care if they rescinded the Affordable Care Act, is correct that somewhere around 100 million Americans have pre-existing conditions, according to studies.

One study by the Health and Human Services Department in 2017 found that a large percentage of non-elderly Americans have pre-existing health conditions, ranging from 61 million to 133 million. 

The study found that "at least 23 percent of Americans (61 million people) using a narrow definition based on eligibility criteria for pre-ACA state high-risk pools, or as many as 51 percent (133 million people) using a broader definition closer to the underwriting criteria used by insurers prior to the ACA" could have been denied health care or offered it at a high price before the Affordable Care Act passed because of pre-existing conditions. The study was published under the Obama administration.

There is a difference, however, between the absolute number of people with pre-existing conditions and the number of people who would be denied coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Experts point out that 54 million non-elderly Americans would've been denied insurance before the ACA, but confirmed that 100 million or more Americans have pre-existing conditions.

"54 million non-elderly adults have a pre-existing condition that would have led to a denial of insurance before the ACA. 100 million or more have a pre-existing condition that would have led to higher premiums or limited benefits," tweeted Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, referring to a study by the organization.

When asked by Wallace if he believes that human pollution and greenhouse gas emission contributes to global warming, Trump responded that, “I think a lot of things do, but I think to an extent, yes.”

“I want crystal clean water and air,” Trump said. “I want beautiful clean air.” 

But Trump has previously publicly said he isn't sure how much humans affect the climate. He also pulled the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Biden, on the other hand, has said he would recommit to the Paris Climate Agreement. He also said if he was elected in November, he would aim to have the U.S. reach zero emissions by 2050.

Wallace went on to press Biden on the cost of his climate change plan noting it includes upgrading 4 million buildings and weatherizing 2 million homes over four years. Biden said the plan will create millions of good jobs and drew the distinction that the Green New Deal is not his plan. 

"We're going to be in a position where we can create, hard, good jobs by making sure the environment is clean, and we all are in better shape," Biden said.

Biden, invoking his late son Beau, raised reporting in The Atlantic that Trump called military members "losers" and "suckers," but Trump used it as a chance to bring up Biden's other son, Hunter.

"I don't know him," Trump said of Beau, before attacking Hunter's history with drug addiction.

"That is not true," Biden said. "My son, my son, like a lot of people you know at home, had a drug problem. He has overtaken it. He's fixed it. He's worked on it and I'm proud of him. I'm proud of my son. He wasn't given tens of millions of dollars. That is totally discredited."

Asked if he would be willing to denounce white supremacists, Trump said he would be willing but skirted around making the statement. 

"Sure. I'm willing to do anything. I want to see peace," Trump said. "What do you want to call them? Give me a name, give me a name."

"Proud Boys, stand down and stand by, but I tell you what. Somebody has got to do something about antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem. This is a left-wing problem," Trump added.

"Antifa is an idea, not an organization," Biden said, quoting Trump's FBI director.