BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

US election: Debate nastiness consumes social media

  • Published
    10 October 2016
Share page
About sharing
Clinton and TrumpImage source, Getty Images
ByBBC Trending
What's popular and why

"Vicious." "Dirty." "Ugly."

Those were a few of the milder terms used by tens of thousands of people online to describe Sunday night's US presidential debate, as both candidates used the campaign set piece to launch their full social media arsenal towards the opposing side.

The opening salvo was actually fired before the candidates took the stage, when Donald Trump appeared on a Facebook Live video, external with three women who accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct. A fourth woman in the video is the victim in a rape case dating to the 1970s. Hillary Clinton was appointed to defend the woman's rapist.

The shaky video starts with about half a minute of silence, with Trump pointedly disregarding questions about his own vulgar comments in that leaked videotape.

Screenshot of Trump's Facebook LiveImage source, Facebook/Donald Trump

The Clinton camp was clearly ready for the attack. Her Twitter feed shot back with a clip of the first lady Michelle Obama speaking at the Democratic National Convention: "When they go low, we go high". It was a line that Clinton repeated about 20 minutes into the debate.

Clinton tweet: "Remember. When they go low, we go high"Image source, Twitter/Hillary Clinton

Clinton's pinned Tweet - the post that appears at the top of her feed regardless of the chronological timeline below - included an attack ad featuring the Trump tape and a direct appeal to female voters.

Clinton tweet: Women have the power to stop TrumpImage source, Twitter/Hillary Clinton

As the candidates entered the arena there was an awkward moment - and yes, people noticed.

tweet: NO HANDSHAKE!Image source, Twitter/Chris Cillizza

After a relatively low-key first question, moderator Anderson Cooper brought up the Trump tape.

line

Who won the debate?

#NotOkay: Sex assault outpouring after Trump video

Trump launches brutal attack on Clintons

line

The Republican candidate described his lewd comments as "locker room talk" before attempting to pivot to talk about Islamic State. Soon "locker room talk" was trending on Twitter, driven mostly by Trump opponents:

Tweet: Locker room talkImage source, Twitter/Anna Kendrick

But in a reflection of how difficult it might be for Clinton to land a knockout blow in this acrimonious election season, a number of staunch supporters rushed to defend him. To take just one example:

Tweet: Locker room talkImage source, Twitter/Jeanine Pirro

An extended discussion about a presidential candidate's filthy comments was only the beginning, with Trump mentioning the sex assault accusations against Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton's work as a public defender and threatening, if elected, to have her thrown in prison.

Throughout the night the campaigns traded blows online:

Clinton TweetImage source, Twitter/Hillary Clinton
Trump TweetImage source, Twitter/Team Trump

Apart from the sniping attacks, several other debate moments caught the attention of the public.

Melania Trump's outfit choice raised many an eyebrow after her husband's latest scandal.

Melania Trump at the second presidential debateImage source, AFP
Image caption,

It wasn't the price tag that was raising eyebrows

She arrived at the second presidential debate wearing a $1,100 fuchsia pussy-bow style shirt, external.

The pussy-bow is a floppy bow tied at the neck that dates back to the 1930s, external. It's called such as it is said to mirror the style of bows tied around cats' necks.

Was this some kind of sartorial political statement in reference to her husband's controversial comments about women from the now infamous leaked videotape from 2005? What exactly was the hidden message?

Donald Trump's campaign spokesperson told @SopanDeb from CBS News that Melania's styling was simply a coincidence, external.

But the internet was not convinced.

Tweet: So, who thinks Melania trolled her own husband with her wardrobe choice?Image source, TWITTER/JEN MILLER
Tweet: I want Melania's pussybow to be her retort to Trump's criticsImage source, TWITTER/JENNY LOWER
Tweet: Know your fashion history and garment terms!Image source, TWITTER/JOE KUCHARSKI

Meanwhile, when the candidates were asked a question by a Muslim woman who asked how they would help people like her, the hashtag "Islamophobia" took off, along with the phrase "Muslims report stuff" - a response to Trump's suggestion that Muslim-Americans needed to be vigilant against radicalism in their own community.

Tweet: Not just Muslims have to report stuff when they see it ... all Americans need to do itImage source, Twitter/@hlong750

Many Muslims poked fun at his comments.

Tweet: I've been cheating on my diet all weekImage source, Twitter/@_abrarnoor
#Muslimsreportstuff

Clinton's invocation of Abraham Lincoln in her attempt to explain an embarrassing leak of speeches to top bankers prompted a spate of memes about America's 16th president.

Tweet: Lincoln could not be reached for commentImage source, Twitter/The Daily Show
Tweet: i bet Abraham Lincoln would rather go watch another play than watch this debateImage source, Twitter/Pete Blackburn

Most were in agreement about the debate: it was not pretty.

But we can't end this post without mentioning a somewhat lighter moment.

The "town hall" format of Sunday's debate put the spotlight on a few ordinary Americans who ask some of the questions.

And the resounding standout was Kenneth (aka Ken, or Kenny, or K) Bone.

It wasn't necessarily Bone's question ("What steps will your energy policy take to meet our energy needs while at the same time remaining environmentally friendly and minimising job loss for fossil power plant workers?") that lit Twitter on fire, but rather his name and his, um, unique style.

Tweet: Ken Bone, power name, power outfitImage source, Twitter/Dillon Cheverere

And yes, more than a few suggested that given the options on stage, they'd rather have a random guy from Missouri as their leader.

Tweet: Kenny Bone for president in 2020Image source, Twitter/Eric Stonestreet

Blog by Mike Wendling, external

NEXT STORY: '$40 to hold my newborn baby'

Woman holding her baby for the first timeImage source, Ryan Grassley

Holding your newborn baby for the first time is said to be one of life's most precious moments. But how would you feel if you were charged for the privilege? READ MORE

You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, external, and find us on Facebook, external. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending.

Top stories

  • Live. 

    Trump says Israel and Hamas 'both sign off' on first phase of Gaza peace plan

    • 4992 viewing5k viewing
  • 'Half my mind is still in Gaza': Evacuated teacher begins studies in UK

    • Published
      2 hours ago
  • America's top banker sounds warning on US stock market fall

    • Published
      2 hours ago

More to explore

  • 'Half my mind is still in Gaza': Evacuated teacher begins studies in UK

    Sana el-Azab is sitting on a wall circling Durham Cathedral. She is smiling and is doing a peace sign with her hands.
  • 'I'll axe stamp duty' and 'My Maddie hoax agony'

    Newspaper headlines: Tories vow to scrap stamp duty and Madeline McCann's parents give testimony in alleged stalking case
  • 'I cried every day': Victoria Beckham tells of fashion woes in new Netflix doc

    Victoria Beckham in a green dress
  • Stars, secrets and slip-ups: Celebrity Traitors is off to a cracking start

    Alan Carr and Claudia Winkleman on the Celebrity Traitors
  • How Britain's membership of the ECHR became a political hot potato

    Montage image showing Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch and Sir Keir Starmer
  • The battle for Scotland's flag: Why the right has adopted the saltire

    A man raises his fist while standing in front of a group of people waving flags, including saltires and a union flag.
  • Have Russians set up a military base in my childhood home?

    Satellite image shows evidence of Russians using a BBC reporter's childhood home in southern Zaporizhzhia oblast
  • Badenoch hopes to grab attention with policy blitz

    Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch waves at supporters as she arrives at the annual Conservative Party Conference on October 4, 2025 in Manchester, England.
  • The Upbeat newsletter: Start your week on a high with uplifting stories delivered to your inbox

    A graphic of a wave in the colours of yellow, amber and orange against a pink sky
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    America's top banker sounds warning on US stock market fall

  2. 2

    Have Russians set up a military base in my childhood home?

  3. 3

    'I'll axe stamp duty' and 'My Maddie hoax agony'

  4. 4

    ChatGPT image snares suspect in deadly Pacific Palisades fire

  5. 5

    Stars, secrets and slip-ups: Celebrity Traitors is off to a cracking start

  6. 6

    'Half my mind is still in Gaza': Evacuated teacher begins studies in UK

  7. 7

    'I cried every day': Victoria Beckham tells of fashion woes in new Netflix doc

  8. 8

    McCann stalker contacted Maddie's sister, court told

  9. 9

    How Britain's membership of the ECHR became a political hot potato

  10. 10

    Conservatives would scrap stamp duty, Badenoch announces

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • Rom-com starring Aimee Lou Wood and Nabhaan Rizwan

    • Attribution
      iPlayer

    Added to Watchlist
    Film Club has been added to your iPlayer Watchlist.
    Film Club
  • Exposing a pro-Russian fake news operation

    • Attribution
      iPlayer

    Added to Watchlist
    Global Eye has been added to your iPlayer Watchlist.
    Global Eye: Inside a Pro-Russian Fake News Operation
  • Leonardo DiCaprio discusses his new film

    • Attribution
      iPlayer

    Added to Watchlist
    Movies With Ali Plumb has been added to your iPlayer Watchlist.
    Movies With Ali Plumb: Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
  • The rise and downfall of Margaret Thatcher

    • Attribution
      iPlayer

    Added to Watchlist
    Thatcher: A Very British Revolution has been added to your iPlayer Watchlist.
    Thatcher: A Very British Revolution
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.