WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump faced off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election – the testy showdown was marked by personal attacks and a stumbling Biden performance.
Democrats have expressed concern over the president’s performance – with US media quoting party insiders who say his early answers triggered panic.
But Vice President Kamala Harris quickly defended Biden, telling CNN it “was a slow start, but there was a strong finish.”
Trump repeatedly attacked Biden on the economy and his foreign policy record, while Biden took aim at his rival’s criminal conviction and alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
This is the second time Biden, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, will challenge each other for the White House after Trump lost in 2020.
The presidential debate has left lingering questions for the Biden campaign – and his team are in damage control.
Biden and Trump sparred on major topics like immigration, the economy and abortion rights.
But Biden’s “slow start” have reportedly left some Democratic leaders worried. His raspy voice, which his team says is because he was ill, along with a moment where the president seemed to lose his train of thought, were not ideal optics.
Analysts piled on the president across most major US media outlets, saying there’s a growing concern about Biden’s chances in November. Republicans were quick to make those same points, while most Democrats – publicly – came out in support of the president.
The two men traded insults, attacked each other’s policies and credibility, and at one point challenged each other’s skills on the golf course.
After the debate, Biden stopped by a nearby hotel where supporters were gathered for a watch party.
He gave brief remarks, repeating a quote from an old John Wayne western movie in which he referred to “a lying, dog-faced pony soldier” while criticizing Trump for lying during the debate.
Though Biden appeared halting during his debate performance, he seemed more upbeat at the after party.
“They’re going to be fact-checking all the things he said. I can’t think of one thing he said that was true,” he said of Trump.
“Look, we’re going to beat this guy, we need to beat this. I need you, in order to beat him. You’re the people I’m running for,” he said. (BBC)
