The stage is set: leadership for one of the world’s most powerful nations is up for grabs. The two candidates, having been selected through an election process refined over two hundred years, will take the stage and challenge each other in direct debate for the first time. Business mogul versus career politician--which one of them will stand out on the debate stage?Around forty NYU Shanghai students crowded into room 204 to watch the debate on livestream. It was divided into three main sections: America’s Prosperity, America’s Direction, and Security in America. The moderator, Lester Holt, pledged we would hear “policies, positions, visions, and values.” But what followed the dramatic introductions was an hour and a half of some of the finest jokes I’ve ever heard. There wasn’t a whole lot of policy--Hillary Clinton did elaborate quite a bit more on her policies than Donald Trump, but overall there were a whole lot more snide comments, interruptions, and dragging the other candidate through the mud.

[Question about who is behind the recent hackings of U.S. cyberspace]

Trump: Could be Russia but it could be China... Could be somebody sitting on their bed who weighs 400 pounds.

Trump, predictably, wasted no time in bringing up the fact that U.S. jobs are being “stolen,” referencing Mexico and its illegal immigrants, and even bashing China, a nation whom he both admires yet also blames for using the U.S. as a “piggy bank” to “rebuild.” Casting the U.S. as a victim in a game of international politics and trade only he has the wisdom to understand, Trump proposed renegotiating trade deals and halting the flood of jobs from the U.S.. Clinton countered by stating her own position (building infrastructure and renewable energy, raising the minimum wage and guaranteed equal pay for women, paid family leave, making the wealthy pay their fair share, etc), but only a few minutes after Holt brought the focus back to the question at hand, the debate devolved into a confusing muddle of Trump-isms, Clinton family stories, and jokes that put Saturday Night Live to shame.

Trump: She’ll put a plan to fight ISIS on her website. I don’t think General Douglas MacArthur would like that.

Clinton: Well, at least I have a plan to fight ISIS.

The debate meandered on, from jobs to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a side note on fighting ISIS, rehashing the PR disasters of Clinton’s emails/Trump’s tax returns/Obama’s birth certificate...in short, it ran exactly as I expected it to. When the conversation turned to race relations, I was disappointed that no candidate talked about Black Lives Matter, but Clinton’s acknowledgment of and pledge to fight systemic racism in the criminal justice system was far better than Trump’s claim that gun violence was caused by gangs of illegal immigrants. Trump was vague and incomprehensible at some points, referencing “thousands of jobs” that are leaving and “law and order, law and order.” Clinton wore a tired, patronizing smile, trying to sympathize with you--Yeah, isn’t he crazy?

Clinton: For all we know, Trump might pay zero taxes.

Trump: That makes me smart.

In a room largely full of liberal NYU students, some of Trump’s more clueless one-liners drew laughter from the crowd. It’s already obvious that some of his statements will become ammunition as the Clinton campaign goes on the warpath. He slams her “bad experience” and mistakes in her Middle Eastern policy, she slams his poor temperament and history of sexism and racism. The debate spiraled out of Holt’s control at some points, but overall covered a broad swath of political “hot topics” without touching down on too many specific policies.

Trump: I have much better judgement than [Hillary] does. I also have a much better temperament than she does. I think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my winning temperament.

Who won the debate? In my opinion, Clinton was the clear winner. She had clearly articulated policies and responded evenly to Donald Trump’s counterpoints and attacks. She was the more “presidential” of the two, not interrupting as often as Trump did and largely staying within the time limit allotted. Trump, on the other hand, came off as comical and petulant. Politically, I don’t agree with his views on trickle-down economics, immigration, or his ignorant views toward Russia and global nuclear safety. But even if I had agreed with his policies, I would not have been impressed with his interrupting, his inane and repetitive statements, his blatant lies (“No, I never said that!”), and his body-shaming.

Trump: [American] airports are like third world countries.

So, what will happen to the U.S. come November? I have no idea, but I think it’s pretty clear who I hope will win. Right now I’m pretty embarrassed to be a United States citizen and have to deal with a roomful of my classmates laughing at the potential future leaders of my country. Get out and vote, everybody. It’s the only way to have a say in this tragic comedy we’re all caught in.This article was written by Savannah Billman. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch.Photo Credit: Jeffrey Kung