Top 10 Biggest FAILS During US Political Debates

These political mistakes proved costly. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most significant and embarrassing blunders made by American politicians during debates that had severe repercussions for their campaigns. Our countdown of the biggest fails made during US political debates includes Al Gore, Donald Trump, Gerald Ford, and more! Which of these political debate fails did you watch live? Let us know in the comments below.
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[@WatchMojo]

Which of these political debate fails did you watch live? Let us know in the comments below. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpy9aKdviMp8kJI Don't forget to play our Live Trivia (www.watchmojo.com/play) games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Love your content guys 😊😊😊

[@paolovismara763]

❤ BUONGIORNO CARISSIMO ❤ BUON POMERIGGIO TESORO 😂❤

[@paolovismara763]

❤

[@TimLoyalToWifeHaterFreeZoneA]

Love It WatchMojo Bro.

[@JAMONABDULLAHIDENTITYEXPOSED]

You say al gore is the only one that has disagreed with a republicans views but you only say he rolled his eyes and had his statements he made across and it made people angry? You don't know how Joe biden or Barack Obama alienates people but al gore does give me a break fr.

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

The first debate between Trump and Biden was a dumpster fire.

[@wynonasbigbrowndragon6121]

Someone I know ate some magic mushrooms before watching it because they knew it was gonna be ridiculous. Suffice to say they had a lot of good laughs

[@thawildawg]

It was embarrassing. And now we have these two again.

[@dench2695]

​@@thawildawgat least one will concede and peacefully transfer power if he loses - the other is Trump.

[@wynonasbigbrowndragon6121]

@dench2695 yeah, it's kind of ridiculous to me how quickly people equate the two. Neither is particularly desirable, but one is WAY worse than the other. And before a MAGA troll decides to fill in the blanks for me, Trump is the worse one 👍

[@wendiwonderly1419]

Joe Biden was at least courteous in the vice presidential debate with Sarah palin. She exposed herself as a political airhead without any help from joe. I was relieved when he told trump “shut up, man!” He was saying what many of us were thinking

[@themanflake]

Hillary Clinton: “It’s just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump isn’t in charge of the law in our country.” Donald Trump: “Cause you’d be in jail.” I’m surprised that one didn’t make the list!😂

[@royroland3884]

And yet, trump did become president but Hillary was never arrested. So it wasn't true.

[@arkhamsoldier9180]

Later trump would be president and face criminal later.

[@AlexUSAF]

Yes I agree that was totally the best one of them all.

[@dirty.dan37]

The debate between Trump and Biden was one of the most awesome and hilarious things I’ve ever seen

[@generalgrievous3731]

Watch the YTP "Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden Parody Debate 2020." It's even funnier

[@BuzryHaproMandalorianHunter]

SNL had a field day with that.

[@Muhammadwasapedo]

It was depressing and hilarious. I like to call it deprarious.

[@BuzryHaproMandalorianHunter]

@@Muhammadwasapedo Was that a DBZA reference?

[@Muhammadwasapedo]

@@BuzryHaproMandalorianHunter yes :)

[@candiceperry9803]

These politicians should tell the truth

[@chasehedges6775]

💯

[@djdmvsdanavigator5034]

Good luck, they gonna tell you just enough so they can get elected 😅

[@PixelatedDream1110]

They should but would not.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

Nobody would ever win an election if they told the truth. It's a sad reality, but it's true. The normie masses don't want to hear the truth, they want a bunch of empty promises. If one guy says he's gonna fix everything and make your life better, and the other guy says well I don't know, I'll do the best I can, but there's only so much one person can do in 4 years (honesty), the guy who made all the big empty promises wins, 100% of the time.

[@CreativeSteve69]

Sadly they haven't at all the past 8 years. :(

[@S0nyToprano]

That Rick Perry fail is my favorite. Immediately sunk his candidacy. When he tried to run again, they made him wear glasses to seem more intelligent 😂😂😂

[@Skinnyd4]

When I see Rick Perry, the same initial thought comes to my mind every time, "Take off the glasses - no one thinks you're smart."

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Rick Perry forgetting the branch of Government he wanted to cut...Ironically one being The Department of Education. 😂

[@chasehedges6775]

The Star Wars prequels and Revenge Of The Sith especially told me all I needed to know about politics.

[@americanzero]

Revenge of the Sith is a prequel

[@chasehedges6775]

@@americanzero I know that

[@TheWarmachine375]

"Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." - Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle, 1988 US Vice-Presidential debate

[@MDCSWildcats86]

He didn't need to be.

[@bananenmusli2769]

Reagan took that line with Thomas Jefferson

[@mypdshp9309]

"That was really uncalled for senator"

[@olivererz6197]

Gerald Ford didn’t technically drift from the facts, he was actually explaining US policy towards Eastern Europe at the time by stating Eastern Europe had no right to be dominated by the Soviets and shouldn’t be considered as such. However, probably a bad choice of words.

[@joermnyc]

Admiral Stockdale: “Who am I, why am I here?”😂

[@melanieparker]

Joe Biden checked his watch too. Go Figure!

[@Dr.Thirteen-bb1ub]

The only thing I remember about Stockdale is Phil Hartman playing him on SNL.

[@dakevman93]

As Frankenstein 😂

[@augustusgigous8943]

I watched part of the Kennedy-Nixon debate in my government class. My teacher also pointed out that Nixon had been discharged from the hospital prior to the debate, adding to his pale appearance.

[@bernardomello842]

Trump 2024

[@TheWarmachine375]

Senator Armstrong would make a great USA President. He is very good at confrontational debates after all.

[@stevenarmstrong5879]

Thank you!

[@tyrannosaurusburke]

Wow, I would have put some of the honorable mentions into the Top 10 list. I mean, how could Trump interrupting Biden NOT make it into the Top 10?

[@wynonasbigbrowndragon6121]

Probably trying to avoid making the comments section into a dumpster fire. I'm surprised they mentioned it at all

[@ethanweeter2732]

And it turned into a blunder for Trump when Biden told him to shut up.

[@Bernie4life4182]

Saying John McCain was disrespectful for one thing is absurd because he is still one of if not the most respectful and respectable people to ever run for president.

[@MrAnthonyFeor]

Bernard Shaw's question to Michael Dukakis was the most inappropriate and targeted question in a Presidential debate. That made me so upset. Worst presidential debates would've been Gore/Bush.

[@wendiwonderly1419]

I didn’t vote for Michael Dukakis but I agree that question was inappropriate and should not have been asked. It reminds me of a reporter asking Betty ford how she would feel about her 17 year old daughter having an affair. When dealing with a minor child that question should not have been asked. And the same with asking Obama how he would feel if his 8 and 10 year old daughters had abortions. And a reporter confronting a visibly distressed emelio Estefan outside his wife’s operating room. You’re her band leader What are you going to do if she doesn’t dance again? All those reporters should have been fired by their news agencies

[@Demothedark]

We're so fucked

[@chasehedges6775]

💯💯💯👍.Correct

[@dnapolyace6342]

Pretty sure having a brother in Flordia tipped the 2000 election, not a response to ignorence.

[@wendiwonderly1419]

And having a convervative majority on the Supreme Court didn’t hurt either. But despite this Al gore should have been able to win by a decisive margin because he was the better prepared candidate. It never should have come down to one state and maybe some maneuvering by jeb bush. Why didn’t he? Al gore is why. He underestimated his opponent and then became visibly irritated when the debate began to go sideways for him. Not a good look on prime time television

[@wendiwonderly1419]

And the Cincinnati reds should have been able to decisively pound the New York Mets in the 1973 pennant race because they were the much stronger team. Again they underestimated their opponent (the Mets pitching strength). They ridiculed the Mets and insulted their wives and so on until it became personal. Then they talked their way into a loss they should have won

[@Pizzaempire2009]

Honestly Regan said "I AM PAYING FOR THIS MICROPHONE" made me laugh

[@melanieparker]

Hillary Clinton had a "fly" problem too.

[@victorwinters36]

You made my day when you mentioned number 4. My favorite one.

[@joshinbama5688]

#1 should be "cause you'd be in jail"

[@ethanweeter2732]

That was not a line that Hillary stumbled into though.

[@danlove12k]

Any debate with Trump was a fail 🤣🤣🤣

[@loretta5653]

THATS what qualified as old and confused back then?!?

[@GeorgeDubya43]

Stockdale’s wasn’t a fail. Come on. That was an iconic debate moment

[@Ant_Man211]

Watchmojo should make a best Trudeau failures video

[@user-xw7ft9rt8s]

Go trump

[@daveerk6573]

NO Trump vs. Hillary? "You'd be in JAIL" ???

[@charlessalzman4377]

You missed the best part of the Bush Gore debate. When Gore left the podium to walk over to Bush and Bush brushed him off saying "I'll be with you in a minute." and Gore just stood there. He attempted a power move and was denied.

[@wendiwonderly1419]

Kind of like jimmy carter chasing Ted Kennedy around the stage at the democratic convention, looking for a power move that never came- for either of them

[@vesbarrow]

I can't see how Nixon looks pale when the video is in black and white.

[@coreyh4692]

The Reagan age and inexperienced line from a debate should have been on the list.

[@TheBrady180]

Why is the Trump V. Clinton debate not on here

[@THANATOS-PRIME]

Top 10 times Producers screwed over their own films. One of the most recent ones that I could name is whoever thought it was a good idea to release a Dracula movie (Last voyage of the Demeter) during the summer, let alone against Barbie and Oppenheimer.

[@welcometothemovies9157]

Most of that list will be Weinstein lol

[@ethanweeter2732]

I watched it.

[@AndreaDoesYoga]

🙈Wow, these mistakes were truly jaw-dropping! 😅

[@DuelTwilightChaser]

Oh boy sure this won't be biased at all on KZbin.

[@mtheman4221]

I had no idea those debates were so superficial. I should take a few charisma lessons and try running for president.

[@thesoundchekguy]

I was blackout drunk by the end of the first Trump/Biden debate.

[@ndingo]

Trumps new 2024 slogan Make America dumb again

[@Josh_Stringer]

Have you heard Biden try to put together a sentence lately? I'm not a Trump voter, but Biden will be sunk if he tries to debate anyone.

[@TheBiologicalGamer]

@@Josh_Stringerhe’s not going to, they can’t rape his career anymore. Biden is openly racist and y’all don’t care but it’s whatever lol

[@w1ndgeneral226]

Indeed.

[@talksalot1111]

Trump- “I love the poorly educated”

[@americanzero]

As much as people value intelligence, it is possible to so smart that you're stupid

[@dumpstersludge9915]

The "you'll be in jail" by trump Was the greatest line dropped against Clinton. I get not wanting to make trump look good but not including it is shameful

[@rileyfuckingrifle]

LOL. But she isn't so....? 😂

[@dumpstersludge9915]

@@rileyfuckingrifle what's your point?

[@PhinneusPrune]

Democrats are doing nothing but making Trump look good. There is not one poll Trump isn't leading Biden in. And every time they charge President Trump. His poll numbers with undecided voters goes up. It is about time that people are seeing it for what it is.

[@nodnarbleahcim5097]

​@@dumpstersludge9915 so she never went to jail like he said she would. One of his MANY MANY lies.

[@dumpstersludge9915]

@@nodnarbleahcim5097 so your saying that line drop wasn't one of the biggest ones ever ?

[@thabuilder88]

No Obama rebuking Romney about less horses and bayonets 🤯

[@summertyme5748]

3:15 _Commerce - Education and uhm….._ ^ Nice job Tex.

[@mmarston332]

Trump's stupidity scares me.

[@MaxPowerSJC]

And Joes dementia doesn’t????

[@mesij6798]

@@MaxPowerSJC yea but we’re talking about Trump right now

[@jesseincognito.]

@@MaxPowerSJCyou really think trump is any better?

[@MaxPowerSJC]

@@mesij6798 sheep 🐑

[@MaxPowerSJC]

@@jesseincognito. than an old man with dementia??? Of course. Imagine saying “My Great Grandfather is running for President” you’d be blown away by that retardation

[@melissaclark1051]

McCain and Obama had a friendly banter

[@TrocaTheNero]

To be fair, Nixon had hurt his knee and been hospitalized not long before the televised debate with Kennedy, so he was probably still recovering from that.

[@joeyfitzgerald2950]

This year's election will shake up this list guaranteed

[@bluegold1026]

Goes to show that everything and anything you say and do WILL be used against you in the realm of politics.

[@daveerk6573]

Du Kukass in a M1a Abrams tank😅😂

[@hayeonkim7838]

Thanks for useful and valuable video as always ❤❤❤

[@ethanweeter2732]

Kennedy had been a PT boat captain and US Senator several years before becoming POTUS and came from a fairly experienced political family even then. He was also a Rep for several years.

[@shahwalkhan5908]

I want a debate between Rahul Gandhi and Modi

[@mohamedfaroukelewa5905]

please add "please clap" little Bush ... 2016 republic nomination tours

[@daveerk6573]

"Gridlock!!"

[@gregoryhoward2349]

Did not watch it live but loved the highlights of Trump vs Biden

[@Skinnyd4]

I would have put "Please Proceed" on this list as well. I'm talking about 2012, when President Obama was debating Mitt Romney, and Romney just knew he had a gotcha question - he even had this smug look on his face. President Obama's response.... "Please proceed..." He let him undo himself with his own words.

[@davidcollins4682]

I'm starting nit to like watch MOJO because every chance you get to bash Trump you go for it

[@PunksloveTrumpys]

If you were impartial you'd at least give Trump's "Because you'd be in jail" quip when Hillary said he "shouldn't be in charge of the law in our country" an honourable mention. Unlike many of these it likely did have a significant impact upon his victory in 2016.

[@summertyme5748]

2:25 _That one!_

[@kavinaderrow3269]

"If you don't vote for me, you ain't black." 🤦‍♀

[@evildevil97]

No "my opponent's youth and inexperience" from '84?

[@patrickperry2497]

I’m shocked they actually included two Democrats despite dems being a train wreck in all debates. Especially Biden, Hillary and Obama.

[@wendiwonderly1419]

Dan Quayle comparing his age and experience to jack kennedy was like apples to oranges. Kennedy was by no means inexperienced when he ran for president. It was his rumored lifestyle that was a cause for concern. His own party wrote him off as a playboy and a lightweight senator Sure all politicians want to emulate Kennedys charisma but be careful what you wish for

[@ethanweeter2732]

Kennedy also was a NAVY PT Boat captain during WWII.

[@mrhumble2937]

Its so annoying. They just try to talk about things so insincere that they know people at home want to here. "Law enfocment is soooo important"

[@syria0110]

Grumpiest Old Men aka the 2020 Presidental Debate

[@chasehedges6775]

The Late Night Debate on the 1984 nuclear war film Threads had political advisors and professors and military specialists talking normally and politely. The 2020 Presidential debate was pathetic to watch.

[@chasehedges6775]

👍

[@w1ndgeneral226]

Jan 6th: Grumpy is an understatement.

[@Muhammadwasapedo]

I'll never understand why people want empathy as a major characteristic in a president. Id rather then be competent, and strong. The opposite of what we have now.

[@ethanweeter2732]

Empathy can matter.

[@Muhammadwasapedo]

@ethanweeter2732 after you meet the other things, yes. But empathy doesn't mean shit if you're so weak that other countries don't take you seriously. If Biden told Netanyahu right now to stop the attacks in Gaza, Netanyahu would just laugh and do it anyway.

[@eliotvishnevsky5019]

I watched both presidential debates in 2020. The first one should have been the top fail.

[@wendiwonderly1419]

The liberal media took Gerald fords comments on Eastern Europe out of context. If you listen to the entire debate and not just the sound bites, Ford was saying we must identify the more independent Eastern European counties and treat them as independent countries. Then they will think of themselves as independent. And isn’t that what eventually happened in Poland after the foreign policy challenged carter left office? Ford was deserving of another term in office. The Republican Party would be much better off today with an elder statesman like Gerald ford

[@ethanweeter2732]

Not really. Ford pardoned Nixon. That was a mistake. He did get out of Vietnam though, something that should have been respected more. But pardoning Nixon and never having been elected to either office of VPOTUS or POTUS hurt him.

[@wendiwonderly1419]

He was a huge improvement over the Republican Party today. The pardon was controversial @@ethanweeter2732

[@AngelRamonaHatfield]

Only one I watched was Trump vs Biden.

[@PixelatedDream1110]

Timestamp

[@christigmc]

To be fair, the fly landing on Mike Pence was not his fault and it was completely out of his control.

[@dada_dittrich]

Gerald Ford said reall horrible lies in this list.

[@themanflake]

When Trump called out Hillary that she would never change the tax code because her donors use the same breaks he does.

[@ethanweeter2732]

Trump then proceeded to cut taxes permanently to corporations and just temporarily for the middle class.

[@dougerrohmer]

I think all presidential debates should be fact checked and not live. They have their little debate, and then the next night it is broadcast and paused each time the fact checkers found a lie or misrepresentation. That might move the whole thing away from soundbites towards facts.

[@evilsultan]

How can Al Gore get killed on his condescending behaviour but for Trump it’s celebrated? I think you guys are misdiagnosing the failures.

[@rosec_rose6661]

That time Politicians were supposed to be civil and friendly if Trump did that in 2000 he would have lost by a landslide. Gore was irritating for people that time unlike George, who was not hard on policies but had an approachable demeanour.

[@phoenix7905]

Good comedy

[@finnishyank7413]

TBF Yugoslavia wasn't under the sphere of the USSR but Romania sure was

[@user-md8nd9uq6r]

Welcome welcome Mr Donald trump you r a next president USA weldone 100❤❤❤❤%.

[@BJI82a]

I can see a rematch of Trump just running his mouth so that Biden doesn’t say anything and that shows he doesn’t care about the country just himself. The only way to make these debates have any meaning is to put normal everyday Americans on stage so they can throw in their ideas and make it a test to the ones running to see if they are listening and can move with modern times.

[@summertyme5748]

Then we hear a siren in the background, and President Biden says to Trump…. _your ride is here!_

[@BJI82a]

@@summertyme5748 yes he should totally say that or someone in the crowd might say it.

[@smoothALOE]

I would’ve liked to have seen the squaring off of Ron Paul and Neet Gingrich or Tulsi Gabbard and Kamala Harris. Those stand out above the rest for me. No sign of them anywhere!

[@blackmesacake5361]

"The Proud Boys? Stand black, and stand by." Lmfao

[@agreb25]

The fact the entire debate didn't come to a screeching halt until he was asked to clarify/retract that statement is one of the reasons we're in such a fucked up situation imo Them "standing back and standing by" led us to January 6th and the almost total overthrow of our democracy

[@blackmesacake5361]

@@agreb25 welcome to America in the "golden age" apparently, it's just a reality show now. We're living on the set of a damn reality show.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

​@@agreb25the US is not a democracy.

[@w1ndgeneral226]

"Fight like hell or you won't have a country." -Former president Trump, Jan 6th.

[@HuggieBear39]

Please proceed Mr Governor: Obama to Romney..

[@Cherryswitch]

It's ironic that Bush Sr's VP had the nerve to mention JFK, considering what we now know.

[@donovanmcvick]

What is it we know now? Sincerely curious

[@clamnog7839]

What do you now know?

[@luciferlovemonkey6750]

I think @Cherryswitch is bringing up the conspiracy that George Sr. was heavily involved in the assassination of JFK. Not saying I don't believe it...

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

There's 100 different conspiracy theories about JFKs assassination, and everyone is so sure their favorite one is true. The only thing we really know is the official narrative we were told to believe is complete BS. As far as what really happened, who knows. It's probably a mix of a few of the prevailing theories.

[@slothachunk]

@WatchMojo The only thing that tipped the Gore/Bush 2000 election to favor Bush, was the Supreme Court.

[@KLAdams-vl8on]

Al Gore is my biggest what if😔

[@jimdellavecchia4594]

Sleepy Joe falls several times a day!!

[@neutral7786]

John edwards attacking Dick cheney using his gay daughter in 2004 Sarah palin winking unbearably in 2008 Mitt romney talking about a Binders full of women in 2012

[@wendiwonderly1419]

it’s unwise to underestimate your opponent. When you disrespect him it gives him an edge and the fight becomes personal. Jimmy carter thought he was a whole lot smarter than Ronald Reagan. He expected some foolish old man bumbling and stumbling around putting countries on the wrong continents. He was caught off guard when Reagan had prepared for the debate and he was visibly irritated. Then he was no match for the Reagan charisma

[@mrhumble2937]

Charisma doesn't make you smart or a good president. It's actually how people get conned. Fall for someone's personality.

[@wendiwonderly1419]

No it doesn’t Look at Donald trump. Although I liked Ronald Reagan personally I voted for Howard baker in the primary. He would have been a good president but lacking in charisma. In the waning days of the Reagan administration when he may have had the onset of Alzheimer’s Howard baker was brought in as chief of staff. From then on Howard baker ran the White House. Why didn’t we just elect Howard baker?@@mrhumble2937

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

Obama did the same with Romney in the first debate

[@ethanweeter2732]

Carter is a smart man. Granted he had Alzheimer’s but Reagan other the Communist speech was not nearly as effective post-Presidency as Reagan.

[@wendiwonderly1419]

The first televised debate had unintended consequences. When Kennedy bought himself the presidency with his charm compared to Nixons awkwardness, politicians understood that they had to be celebrities first and statesmen second. The last guy to reall just campaign on the issues was Barry Goldwater. Remember him? Me either

[@wendiwonderly1419]

Unfortunately it was a slippery slope from Kennedy who, while undeniably charismatic, had some substance. It was only a question of time until we got an entertainer and a con man

[@keithkarvelis82]

Trump interrupting Biden bunch of times should've been #1. Trump was especially obnoxious in that debate. Kerry referencing Cheney's daughter regarding gay marriage should've been on the list.

[@neutral7786]

The one who did that was John edwards and yes Dick cheney responded by thanking him, leaving him looking like an idiot

[@keithkarvelis82]

@neutral7786 Kerry did that too in the last debate

[@manoftheusajones5147]

TOP 10 Ugliest Cartoons

[@melanieparker]

I already know watch mojo is bias.

[@Vampiricspektor2]

Regardless of the McCain vs obama presidency...i THINK McCain..threw the election because we NEVER had a black president EVER and this woulda pissed alot of racists off XD

[@jorgeadairramos7469]

Hello good morning

[@user-lb6ch3ns7g]

The liberal bias here is ludicrous. I expected some but damn. Half of these had zero impact on the campaigns and the commentary of some is just factually wrong. Like the Ford one (basically lost due to 1 state and despite a massive amount of baggage due to Watergate and Reagan running against him in primaries) where he was correct on Yugoslavia as it co-founded the non-aligned movement and at that time Romania too was warming to the West while Albania was kinda outlier. Anywho could have easily done 5/5 Republican/Democrat to appear objective. Mondale, Kerry, Gore, Humphrey had some gems.

[@jamisonholiday4744]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😅😅😅

[@briandavis676]

I speak for every American when I say we all want Trump back in the White House!!!

[@melissaclark1051]

The fly won

[@joeb.evrythngEclectic5571]

Biden has memory issues!

[@ethanweeter2732]

Yes, but not at a debate that was broadcasted to millions.

[@Idevaughan530]

Biden 2024