--- title: Ken Bone Becomes Internet's Hero After Presidential Debate description: Ken Bone made headlines when he asked a question during the second presidential debate while clad in a tomato red sweater. canonical: https://time.com/4525241/ken-bone-presidential-debate/ author: Cady Lang article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-10-10T18:39:07.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T06:50:17.619Z og:title: Internet Decides This Audience Member Won the Debate og:description: The Internet went wild for him og:url: https://time.com/4525241/ken-bone-presidential-debate/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1774d2733f33bd37/6988a961cf40a86053c451a6/ken-bone-second-presidential-debate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2000 og:image:height: 1125 og:image:alt: Candidates Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump Hold Second Presidential Debate At Washington University og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Internet Decides This Audience Member Won the Debate twitter:description: The Internet went wild for him twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1774d2733f33bd37/6988a961cf40a86053c451a6/ken-bone-second-presidential-debate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Why Debate Audience Member Ken Bone Is the Internet’s New Hero > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=f45b0344-d555-4e7d-99db-675479c48afd&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Twice a week | time.com/newsletters, September 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * D.C. Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=f45b0344-d555-4e7d-99db-675479c48afd&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=f45b0344-d555-4e7d-99db-675479c48afd&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=f45b0344-d555-4e7d-99db-675479c48afd&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Debate Audience Member Ken Bones [Watch (HLS stream): Debate Audience Member Ken Bones](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PZ66wgWb.m3u8) (0:13)  _Published 2016-10-10. During the heated clash of Sunday night’s presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, an unexpected winner emerged._  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Oct 10, 2016 6:39 PM UTC During the heated clash of Sunday night’s presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, an unexpected winner emerged.  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Oct 10, 2016 6:39 PM UTC During the [heated clash](http://time.com/4524589/second-presidential-debate-donald-trump-nuclear/) of [Sunday night’s presidential debate](http://time.com/4524525/social-media-presidential-debate-clinton-trump-st-louis/) between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, an unexpected winner emerged. It’s Ken Bone, an audience member with excellent taste in [knitwear](http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=93xLBvPhAeE&subid=0&offerid=461347.1&type=10&tmpid=1701&RD%5FPARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jcpenney.com%2Fizod-durham-sweater%2Fprod.jump%3F&RD%5FPARM2=ppId%3Dppr5007133448&u1=TIMEkenbone), who stepped forward to ask the candidates a question about meeting America’s energy needs while remaining environmentally friendly while minimizing job loss fossil power plant workers. Bone instantly won the hearts of the American public with his [bright red sweater](http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=93xLBvPhAeE&subid=0&offerid=461347.1&type=10&tmpid=1701&RD%5FPARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jcpenney.com%2Fizod-durham-sweater%2Fprod.jump%3F&RD%5FPARM2=ppId%3Dppr5007133448&u1=TIMEkenbone) ([_buy here_](http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=93xLBvPhAeE&subid=0&offerid=461347.1&type=10&tmpid=1701&RD%5FPARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jcpenney.com%2Fizod-durham-sweater%2Fprod.jump%3F&RD%5FPARM2=ppId%3Dppr5007133448&u1=TIMEkenbone)), a sartorial choice that almost didn’t happen. In an interview with [_CNN_](http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/10/10/ken-bone-presidential-debate-red-sweater-intv-nr.cnn) on Monday, the morning after the debate, Bone revealed that [the sweater](http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=93xLBvPhAeE&subid=0&offerid=461347.1&type=10&tmpid=1701&RD%5FPARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jcpenney.com%2Fizod-durham-sweater%2Fprod.jump%3F&RD%5FPARM2=ppId%3Dppr5007133448&u1=TIMEkenbone) was actually the solution to a fashion crisis he had had earlier. “I had a really nice olive suit, and my mother would have been very proud to see me wearing on television, but apparently I have gained about 30 pounds,” Bone said. “And when I went to get in my car the morning of the debate I split the seat of my pants all the way open. So the [red sweater](http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=93xLBvPhAeE&subid=0&offerid=461347.1&type=10&tmpid=1701&RD%5FPARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jcpenney.com%2Fizod-durham-sweater%2Fprod.jump%3F&RD%5FPARM2=ppId%3Dppr5007133448&u1=TIMEkenbone) is plan B. I’m glad it worked out.” He’s reportedly getting flooded with [Facebook friend requests](http://insidestl.com/tma-2-ken-bone-ken-hitchock-nitwittery/1974670), but as for the election, Bone says he is still undecided when it comes to who he’ll be voting for in the polls this November. “Well, I know people hate to hear this but I think I might be more undecided than ever,” he said. “I was leaning very heavily towards Donald Trump but Secretary Clinton impressed me with her composure and with a lot of her answers. So now I think I’m just going to wait for the last political debate and in this cycle you never know what could happen.” Undecided though he may be, Ken Bone remains a true American hero — at least to Twitter users across the nation. > [](https://twitter.com/BarstoolJordie/status/785306908357984256) > [](https://twitter.com/InfiniteRichIs/status/785307103728693248) > [](https://twitter.com/ryan%5Fs%5Fclark/status/785307053942312960) > [](https://twitter.com/tobyhuss/status/785306494287745024) > [](https://twitter.com/knguyen/status/785306471877795840) Watch the question here. ## Transcript [00:00] What steps will your energy policy take to meet our energy [00:03] needs, while at the same time reminding environmentally [00:07] friendly and minimizing job loss for fossil power plant [00:10] workers. Mr. Trump, two minutes. Absolutely, I think it's [00:12] such a great question. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4525241/ken-bone-presidential-debate/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4525241/ken-bone-presidential-debate/"},"headline":"Why Debate Audience Member Ken Bone Is the Internet’s New Hero","datePublished":"2016-10-10T18:39:07.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-07T06:50:17.619Z","description":"The Internet went wild for him","url":"https://time.com/4525241/ken-bone-presidential-debate/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Entertainment","Internet","Culture"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1774d2733f33bd37/6988a961cf40a86053c451a6/ken-bone-second-presidential-debate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1774d2733f33bd37/6988a961cf40a86053c451a6/ken-bone-second-presidential-debate.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Candidates Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump Hold Second Presidential Debate At Washington University","caption":"Candidates Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump Hold Second Presidential Debate At Washington University","creditText":"Pool—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4525241/ken-bone-presidential-debate/","name":"Why Debate Audience Member Ken Bone Is the Internet’s New Hero"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Debate Audience Member Ken Bones","description":"During the heated clash of Sunday night’s presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, an unexpected winner emerged.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/PZ66wgWb/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-10-10T19:56:20.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PZ66wgWb.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4525241/ken-bone-presidential-debate/","duration":"PT13S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4525241/ken-bone-presidential-debate/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```