Tempers flared at the first U.S. presidential debate Tuesday night in Cleveland, Ohio.

There is a long history of presidential debates in the United States. But, perhaps, none more contentious than the first between the incumbent President Donald Trump, and his challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden.

Trailing in the polls, the president plowed through the debate rules, interrupting both the moderator and his opponent in an aggressive attempt to win new voters and solidify his base.

To discuss:

• Ameshia Cross is a Democratic strategist
• Steve Chaggaris is a political journalist and analyst
• Jadan Horyn is a contributor for Metropolitan Magazine and a conservative commentator
• Nathan King is CGTN White House Correspondent 

For More: 

Biden slammed Trump's handling of the pandemic in their first debate, saying the president is the ‘same man who told you by Easter this would be gone away' https://t.co/DAJC4ItD9W #Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/GtoBcITOXt

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 30, 2020

Perspective | Interruptions, accusations, chaos: Trump trolled the debate stage https://t.co/C5Fis0Bkuf

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 30, 2020

Last night's debate between President Trump and Joe Biden strengthened impressions abroad that the United States has retreated from the global stage. https://t.co/HfXzCBMVr0

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 30, 2020

The first presidential debate between President Trump and Joe Biden managed to achieve rare bipartisan consensus: Just about everyone offering commentary online agreed that it was a disaster. https://t.co/yAJbHku6tx

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 30, 2020