Trump, Biden Referred to As Archie Bunker, Mr. Rogers After Dueling Town Halls

One of them will be officially elected as President after November 3, but after dueling Town Hall events which took the place of their planned second debate, both Donald Trump and Joe Biden each earned new nicknames on social media with pop culture references—Archie Bunker and Mr. Rogers.

Both characters, who were the stars of “All In The Family” from 1971-1979 and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood from 1968-2001,” were used to describe both the President and his Democratic Challenger during their events.

Many quickly took to Twitter to reference Bunker, who as a character exhibited some bigoted and ignorant behaviors on the show, as they watched Trump during his Town Hall on NBC with Savannah Guthrie, stating that they didn’t want four more years of Bunker in the White House.

My quick review of last night’s #BidenTownHall vs. #TrumpTownHall. Our country won’t survive four more years of Archie Bunker as president. Don’t be a meathead. Vote for Joe. pic.twitter.com/pwx6RHF1SD
— Jon Hyman 🇺🇦🍻💉 (@jonhyman) October 16, 2020

Trump is proud of voter suppression in Texas. Leaders should want every American to vote. This man and the Texas GOP will do everything in their power to make sure you don't have that right to vote. Time to get rid of this Archie Bunker & the rest of the Texas GOP. https://t.co/HfQA5eMbgX
— Russell Foster A New Texas (@RussellFosterTX) October 16, 2020

After 4 long exausting years of racist Archie Bunker as president I'm ready for a Mr. Rogers presidency. What say you my twitter friends? .
— Adelino Camara (@ADIC33) October 16, 2020

However, others also noted that it was unfair to refer to Bunker when comparing Trump because while the character wasn’t always perfect, he still expressed humility and had the ability to change—something they didn’t believe Trump had the ability to do.

Fictional character Archie Bunker was a bigot, homophobe and misogynist. But he earned every dollar he made, and over time, he evolved, changed, and became a better person.

Trump has just gotten worse. He is no Archie Bunker. https://t.co/8O1Tdm2Zuu
— Evan Shapiro (@eshap) October 16, 2020

Trump is NOT Archie Bunker (who despite his prejudices, was a loving man, and no socipath).

Trump is Biff. pic.twitter.com/V9zjRr8Qr0
— Peter Kaufman (@inklake) October 16, 2020

I'm seeing a lot of people comparing the President to Archie Bunker. Bunker was a bigot and a loudmouth but was also capable of compassion and empathy, or could be dragged by his ears to see the error of his ways. He knew shame and guilt, two things alien to the Ghoul.
— Jeremiah Sherman (@JShermanFiction) October 16, 2020

There was hope for Archie Bunker. There’s no hope for Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/usdsBx01oR
— Rex 🌻 (@hothouserex) October 16, 2020

Meanwhile, comparisons to Mr. Rogers started to appear in relation to Biden, after Trump aide Mercedes Schlapp criticized him by comparing him to the man who hosted the long-running children’s program. That led to others criticizing her for thinking Mr. Rogers was an insult.

I’m just glad I left @GOP before I was asked to make attack ads against Mr. Rogers.
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) October 16, 2020

This may be the worst self-own I’ve seen this political season, especially since the universally beloved Mr. Rogers was from Pennsylvania, where Biden was tonight. #BidenTownHall https://t.co/dHpCA5S1nA
— April (@ReignOfApril) October 16, 2020

Trump aides likening Biden to Mr. Rogers (who’s universally beloved!) in an election when voters crave stability and a break from the chaos really illuminates why this race is where it is 18 days out. https://t.co/KA4ZLlKlla
— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) October 16, 2020

Mr. Rogers is trending because the GOP thought it was insulting to compare him to Biden. HAHAHAHA. pic.twitter.com/xPWv7WoS8U
— Mystery Solvent (@MysterySolvent) October 16, 2020

The fact that you think calling someone Mr. Rogers is an insult says WAY more about you than it does the other person.
— Richard Jeter (@MilesToGo13) October 16, 2020

In what possible scenario is this an insult??? I think I’m having an aneurism trying to process how someone could use Mr. Rogers as a negative? https://t.co/gW7MsszWR6
— Long Arm Nicky (@CickNarlson) October 16, 2020

I personally say that Biden ought to *lean in* to the Mr. Rogers comparison. Keep speaking intelligently, gently and kindly. Maybe even start wearing cardigans.
— Shecky (@SheckyX) October 16, 2020

With the election just two and a half weeks away, the competition between the two men is only going to be more fierce, as they each try to win over the remaining undecided voters in the important swing states.

As of press time, average polls put Biden ahead of President Trump in several different states and scenarios, with the FiveThirtyEight forecast showing only three scenarios where he could take the Presidency. The projections also state that Trump has a 12/100 chance of winning while Biden has an 87/100 chance, and when it comes to the popular vote, the President has a 4 in 100 chance of winning versus Biden’s 96 in 100 chance.