- Trump and Biden debate immigration, abortion, and leadership.
- Biden’s performance raises concerns among Democrats.
- Trump’s energetic attacks contrast with Biden’s subdued response.
American voters witnessed a heated exchange between the two main presidential contenders for the November 5 election during the first public debate on Thursday night. Former President Donald Trump, 78, and President Joe Biden, 81, clashed at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, with Trump launching hyperbolic attacks while Biden occasionally struggled to stay on point.
The debate, featuring the oldest presidential hopefuls in US history, covered critical issues such as immigration, abortion, and even golf. Biden’s performance was muted, drawing criticism as he struggled to match Trump’s energy. At one point, Biden mistakenly referred to “billionaires” as “trillionaires” before correcting himself, adding to the perception of his faltering delivery.
Despite his subdued start, Biden managed to criticize Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, mocking Trump’s controversial suggestions like injecting bleach to combat the virus. However, his tone often fell flat against Trump’s bombastic style, particularly in the debate’s early stages. Later, Biden regained some momentum, pushing back against Trump’s factually incorrect statements about immigration and abortion.
The performance raised alarms among Democrats, with some questioning whether Biden should remain on the presidential ticket. David Axelrod, former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, hinted at potential discussions about Biden’s future candidacy, reflecting broader concerns about his ability to lead the party to victory.
