The US Consulate General in Chennai, joined hands with Loyola College and Athena Infonomics, to host the screening of the first US presidential debate of the 2016 election season at the Lawrence Sundaram Hall at Loyola College, Chennai.

A press release stated that the screening of the debate, between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, is part of the US Consulate General’s 2016 presidential election programme.

“This is what is great about democracy in the United States; two leading candidates openly debating each other about different philosophies and visions, and allowing the American voter the final say in who becomes president,” said consulate public affairs officer Ariel H Pollock.

The screening was followed by a discussion led by Pollock and Commodore R S Vasan, lead advisor, Athena Infonomics and Colleen Berry, Associate Director, Program/Instructor, Asian Studies Program, Center For Asian Studies.

The second and third presidential debates will be held on October 9 and 20. The only vice-presidential debate will be held on October 4. The U.S. presidential debates are conducted by private, nonpartisan organisation, the Commission on Presidential Debates.