A raspy President Joe Biden repeatedly sought to confront Donald Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election, as his Republican rival countered Biden's criticism by leaning into falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration and his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
The debate, featuring deeply personal attacks by both men, came at a pivotal juncture in their unpopular presidential rematch and a critical moment to make their cases before a national television audience. Biden’s uneven performance risked crystallizing voter concerns that at age 81 he is too old to serve as president, while the 78-year-old Trump’s rhetoric offered a perhaps unwelcome reminder of the bombast he launched daily during his tumultuous four years in office.
Biden repeatedly tore into Trump in personal terms, bringing up everything from the former president's recent felony conviction to his alleged insult of World War I veterans to his weight and golf game. Initially focusing many of his answers on illegal immigration, Trump in the latter half of the debate lapsed into familiar grievances. Each man called the other the worst president in history.
The current president and his predecessor hadn’t spoken since their last debate weeks before the 2020 presidential election. Trump skipped Biden’s inauguration after leading an unprecedented and unsuccessful effort to overturn his loss that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection by his supporters.
Trump equivocated on whether he would accept the results of the November election, saying he would accept them if the vote was “fair” and “legal,” repeating his baseless claims of widespread fraud and misconduct in his 2020 loss to Biden that he still denies.
Pressed on his actions on Jan 6, 2021, Trump was unapologetic.
“On Jan. 6, we were respected all over the world, all over the world we were respected. And then he comes in and we’re now laughed at,” Trump said.
After he was prompted by a moderator to answer whether he violated his oath of office that day by rallying his supporters seeking to block the certification of Biden's Electoral College victory and not acting for hours to call them off as they raided the Capitol, Trump sought to blame then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Biden said Trump encouraged the supporters to go to the Capitol and sat in the White House without taking action as they fought with police officers.
“He didn’t do a damn thing and these people should be in jail,” Biden said. “They should be the ones that are being held accountable. And he wants to let them all out. And now he says that if he loses again, such a whiner that he is, that this could be a ‘bloodbath’?”
Trump then defended the people convicted and imprisoned for their role in the insurrection, saying to Biden, “What they’ve done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
The former president has allied himself with Jan. 6 rioters and sometimes opens his rallies by playing a rendition of the national anthem performed by people jailed on riot-related charges.
Biden began the night with a raspy voice and a halting delivery as he tried to defend his economic record and criticize Trump. A person familiar with the matter said Biden was suffering from a cold during the debate, adding that he tested negative for COVID-19.
Biden appeared to lose his train of thought while giving one answer, drifting from an answer on tax policy to health policy, at one point using the word “COVID,” and then saying, “excuse me, with, dealing with,” and he trailed off again.
“Look, we finally beat Medicare,” Biden said, as his time ran out on his answer.
Biden began to give clearer answers as the debate progressed, still with a rasp, and attacked Trump's record on issues like fighting climate change.
“The only existential threat to humanity is climate change, and he didn’t do a damn thing about it," he said.
Trump and Biden entered the night facing stiff headwinds, including a public weary of the tumult of partisan politics and broadly dissatisfied with both, according to polling. But the debate was highlighting how they have sharply different visions on virtually every core issue — abortion, the economy and foreign policy — and deep hostility toward each other.
Their personal animus quickly came to the surface. Biden got personal in evoking his son, Beau, who served in Iraq before dying of brain cancer. The president criticized Trump for reportedly calling Americans killed in battle “suckers and losers.” Biden told Trump, “My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. You’re the sucker. You’re the loser.”
Trump said he never said that — a line attributed to Trump by his former chief of staff — and slammed Biden for the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, calling it “the most embarrassing day in the history of our country’s life.”
Trump himself agreed to the withdrawal with the Taliban a year before he left office.
Biden directly mentioned Trump’s conviction in the New York hush money trial, saying, “You have the morals of an alley cat," and referencing the allegations in the case that Trump had sex with a porn actress.
“I did not have sex with a porn star," replied Trump, who chose not to testify at his trial.
Trump retorted that Biden could face criminal charges “when he leaves office,” evoking his familiar threats of retribution. Though there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, Trump said, “Joe could be a convicted felon with all the things that he’s done.”
Pressed to defend rising inflation since he took office, Biden pinned it on the situation he inherited from Trump amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden said that when Trump left office, “things were in chaos.” Trump disagreed, declaring that during his term in the White House, “Everything was rocking good.”
By the time Trump left office, America was still grappling with the pandemic and during his final hours in office, the death toll eclipsed 400,000. The virus continued to ravage the country and the death toll hit 1 million over a year later.
Trump repeatedly insisted that the three conservative justices he appointed to the Supreme Court helped overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision and returned the issue of abortion restrictions to individual states, which is what “everybody wanted.” Biden countered that abortion access was settled for 50 years and that Trump was making it harder for women in large swaths of the country to get access to basic health care.
At one point, Trump defended his record on foreign policy and blamed Biden for the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, suggesting the conflicts broke out when the aggressors felt free to attack because they perceived Biden as weak.
“This place, the whole world, is blowing up under him,” Trump said.
“I never heard so much malarkey in my whole life,” Biden retorted.
Trump was asked what he would do to make childcare more affordable. He used his answer to instead boast about how many people he fired during his term, including former FBI Director James Comey and criticized Biden for not firing people from his administration.
Trump has promised sweeping plans to remake the U.S. government if he returns to the White House and Biden argues that his opponent would pose an existential threat to the nation’s democracy.
Aiming to avoid a repeat of their chaotic 2020 matchups, Biden insisted — and Trump agreed — to hold the debate without an audience and to allow the network to mute the candidates’ microphones when it is not their turn to speak. The debate's two commercial breaks offered another departure from modern practice, while the candidates have agreed not to consult staff or others while the cameras are off.
Both men abided by the rules and didn't speak out of turn. Near the end, Biden also appeared to question Trump’s weight — leading Trump to respond while his mic was muted, making his answer partly inaudible — and the two squabbled about their golf handicaps.
“Let’s not act like children,” Trump replied.
Heading out of the debate, both Biden and Trump will travel to states they hope to swing their way this fall. Trump is heading to Virginia, a onetime battleground that has shifted toward Democrats in recent years.
Biden is set to jet off to North Carolina, where he is expected to hold the largest-yet rally of his campaign in a state Trump narrowly carried in 2020.
© 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
109 Comments
itsonlyrocknroll
LIVE on June 27 at 8 p.m. ET | CNN presidential debate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFHkVxhKbE8
Please I really don't know what to say, I have absolutely respect for the the elected President Joe Biden.
Let leave it like that, However Joe Biden must with dignity stand down.
wallace
Painful listening to all the Trump lies and exaggerations.
divinda
This earlier than ever date of the debate, which was proposed by the Democrats, is probably for the reason so that Biden's no-longer-avoidable age issues can be shown as more than obvious, and now there is 6 more weeks remaining until the Democratic National Convention, during which time a replacement for him can be installed.
Blacklabel
By the way, by the way, by the way.
biden is horrible.
spinningplates
Lol.
Total incompetence
or
Lying felon.
good job America.
funkymofo
Trump can’t answer questions because he doesn’t understand the issues. Trump pivots to slogans, Biden pivots to facts.
dagon
Trump was Trump 2016 basically.
Scapegoating immigrants, lying about the economy and tax cuts muddying the waters on his quotes and facts.
Biden was superannuated and on his heels most of the time and could have hit back at Trump on the facts but was constantly flubbing numbers and correcting himself.
First take is there is probably anxiety at the DNC.
OssanAmerica
Biden started off very badly, like a spaced out gramps. But he picked up pace as the debate went on. Balancing that was the high energy, but total usual nonsense spouted by Trump, who avoided directly answering the questions. Especially the question of whether he would accept the election results, where he reserved the right to claim it was rigged and unfair. Trump is determined to finish what he started in 2020, to destroy the United States. Not sure if Biden will be able to complete another 4 years, but keeping Trump out of office is a top priorty for the sake of the country.
Blacklabel
This dude can’t even give a memorized 2 minute summary.
he’s done.
deanzaZZR
The Beacon of Democracy! On one side a spaced out octogenarian who should be gardening. On the other side a sociopathic misogynist. The USA has come to this.
Express sister
Embarrassing. Biden was confused, Trump was a meandering liar. Just awful.
Blacklabel
“The President has a cold and has had a cold” announced the White House in panic.
deanzaZZR
Sadly one of these guys has to win. If Biden wins he will pass the baton to Kamala. If Trump wins he will try to burn down everything.
proxy
I think they challenged each other to a dual on the 6th hole.
R B Quinn
Neither one should be a candidate for the Office of President of the United States of America … period!
wtfjapan
This dude can’t even give a memorized 2 minute summary.
he’s done.
yes Trump is couldnt even answer a question truthfully, yes he did have sex with stormy ,
at least 2 courts convicted Trump and a bench trial. No that wasnt Bodens making LOL
Trump is toast come November
Blacklabel
he disappeared from his job and practiced for over a week for THAT?
ken
Did Trump even answer any questions?
All he talked about was the immigration issue, greatly exaggerated...
Biden sadly looks and acts old, he should step aside so we can save this country from Trump!
itsonlyrocknroll
Look, there were times when Joe Biden was mumbling whispering.
There were times when Joe Biden was reminded that he had time remaining to retort, actually endearing.
Joe Biden is a kindly gentleman, thrown into a political maelstrom, I suggest not of his own making.
Politics is a very cruel.
Raw Beer
i.e. not going along with the controlled narrative....
wtfjapan
biden is horrible.
hes a saint compared to Trump,
even lies about what his convictions are, a civilly liable rapist and tax fraudster
WiseOneIn Kansai
Ha ha ha!!! Trump cracks me up!!
Everything that he says, I believe the opposite!!
Yubaru
What is saddest of all of this is that the United States can't find a worthy candidate to hold the highest office in the land.
It's all about 2 children who can't play in the sandbox together, one a liar, and is proud of it, and the other who can't remember where he is.
Blacklabel
Tell me you didn’t watch the debate without saying you didn’t watch it.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Biden was okay for 95% of the debate. Unfortunately he came in on a metaphorical stretcher. I don't really care, though, as a ham sandwich would be better than Trump.
TokyoLiving
What a hopeless debate for the country..
They were both a total disaster..
Biden very erratic and misplaced but Trump, with his hate speech, anti-democratic and lies, cannot contain his megalomania.
Worst of all, both of them arguing about golf, seriously, golf????..
This shows the hopeless state of the country..
Democrats are in panic, from now on I tell you, Gavin Newson is going to replace Biden..
It will be very exciting how Newsom defeats Trump..
deanzaZZR
2016 Clinton v Trump
2020 Biden v Trump
2024 Bidne v. Trump
It's a systemic problem.
Many complain about LDP politics but is this any better?
TaiwanIsNotChina
Two terrible candidates is better than one corrupt CCP candidate.
Bob Fosse
Biden started weakly but at least ended the debate with a clear message on his plans for a second term.
45’s wrap up speech was just more whining and passing the buck.
Jimizo
That’s about the size of it.
Painful.
itsonlyrocknroll
There was a time when a younger Joe Biden could have well sent Donald Trump packing.
This was embarrassing, it was at times excruciating.
4Tno
Biden was extremely incoherent and difficult to follow. It was painful to listen to him.
itsonlyrocknroll
How many time did Joe Biden repeat himself?
I look after my elderly J relatives.
They are not the President of the USA
Jimizo
True.
Trump is a lying machine. He’s brain is so addled I don’t know if he knows he’s lying at this stage.
DaDude
Source: Me because I don't like him.
RichardPearce
Of course, just because Biden says it with great sincerity and the American media echoes it, doesn't make it true.
No, the regime committing genocide in the ME is NOT a democracy, isn't defending itself because an occupying power is, by definition, the aggressor against the occupied population, the war in Ukraine started in 2014 with the American backed overthrow of the last legitimate, democratic government of a united, peaceful Ukraine, the world is not looking for leadership from the United States, it is looking for the US to quit trying to force them into submissive obedience...
Jimizo
Only cult members regard Trump as honest in any way. Serious people know he’s full of it - even those who vote for him.
The walls closed in on the seriousness of the cult members a long time ago.
bass4funk
Well, it's over, Biden got tossed like a Jack-cheese omelette
J101
So, according to Trump, when will WWII start in your opinion?
Blacklabel
Told the leftists you needed to replace this guy months ago.
thats YOUR guy, you are stuck with him now lol
TaiwanIsNotChina
I wonder how many people, if they were honest with themselves, would say they could give a two hour performance as well sourced with numbers as Biden did at 81. All people will remember is him declaring war on Medicare, though, because people are idiots.
itsonlyrocknroll
You know there is another way to look at this.
Joe Biden is not the villain here.
He is fulfilling an impossible task, a war in Ukraine which I truly believe Joe Biden has supported the people of Ukraine with a genuine, rightful milltary commitment.
His support for Israeli government after 7th Oct, the massacre of Jewish civilians and the taking of hostages.
I wish he could have made an excuse and simply stayed at home.
Fighto!
Gavin Newsom just rocketed into 7-1 to take the presidency - from 40-1 yesterday. Odds dropping by the minute.
It's clear the Democrats cannot run with Biden, and I don't hate the guy. He has been firm against fascist Russia. But that's just the reality.
dagon
And you got told again and again that Biden is in no way a 'leftist'.
Have to imagine an even older gentlemen like Bernie Sanders up on that stage and the on message zingers and clap backs he would have landed on Trump.
Seems the DNC is rightly panicking and either Biden has to come out with some outstanding new messaging or policy or consider other candidates, hopefully not another establishment safe neo-liberal.
2020hindsights
RichardPearce
No, it did not. There was no overthrow of the regime, the president fled to Russia, and the US was not involved.
bass4funk
He is, he's not right, right-leaning, or even a conservative.
He would have lost hands down, Bernie wouldn't have a chance even if the guy took dark money.
Yup!
At this point, we need to play TAPS for Biden's political career.
TaiwanIsNotChina
And I'm sure you will keep telling us this gem no matter how long it takes. Fortunately Russian barbarism has been obvious to all observing.
No, that you projecting.
dagon
Fixed it for you.
PTownsend
One of the worst things about the strict format of this debate, is not being able to hear rambling monologues about wind farms, whales, sharks and electric motors.But I'm sure there will be lots of opportunities ahead, where unhinged rants will once again be the norm, no need for deep fakes to provide comic relief, just gibberish from the whale's mouth.
quercetum
Meritocracy is the way to go. These two are not what the U.S. has to offer.
Ricky Kaminski13
How did we get here America? I mean really. What an absolute shambles.
Here’s a suggestion FROM your loyal Aussie mates. Try not demonizing the other party nor your opponents.
At some stage, as with any functioning democracy the other party will hold power. That’s a good thing. The idea is to keep things as civil, intelligent and centered as possible. You actually WANT the other party and your opponents to be the strongest they can be.
And what do we get from the current yanks? Children fighting in a sandpit, silly and dangerous underhand tactics trying stack the cards in your own favor, a by all means necessary mindset, biased idiot media reports treating everyone like imbeciles.
Please get grip y’all, you underestimate yourselves and your opponents at your own peril. LOOK at what’s lurking on the sidelines hoping for the downfall! Strongest military and economic power in the history of mankind reduced to this.
soul searching time guys, please. Tanomuzo. God bless America again!
all the best ,
Australia
bass4funk
Fixed what?
Move liberal digging...
deanzaZZR
Looking at more of the video Biden is a goner unless Trump is jailed or dies from a heart attack or whatever. Old Joe is waaaaay too old and I'm not a fan of Trump. (I'm not a fan of Old Joe either).
wallace
DaDude
Painful listening to all the Trump lies and exaggerations
Yes, I didn't like Trump because of all the lies he tells. He denied having sex with Stormy. That lie is even too much for Trump.
TaiwanIsNotChina
While I don't believe a parliamentary system is superior, it does have the advantage that the prime minister can be tossed out at any second. We need a French style runoff system. There I said it.
Ramsey's Kitchen
*" *because people are idiots."
Typical arrogance so often displayed by the team Biden staffers and supporters on here. Anyone who disagrees with their self proclaimed superior intellect and viewpoint is an idiot or a MAGA hillbilly. Until yesterday these know it all experts were confidently proclaiming , quote " Biden will wipe the floor with Trump". Well, that prediction has proven about as accurate as the rest they usually come up with.
deanzaZZR
There's no way in hell a Californian liberal is going to win an Electoral College victory in the USA in 2024. The only Californians voted into the White House are Nixon and Reagan.
TaiwanIsNotChina
An unaccountable corrupt single party is not the answer.
TaiwanIsNotChina
I'm glad you believe in 4 year term limits. Now how about a 10 year term limit for the leader of your favorite country?
deanzaZZR
TIL Iran's missile attack on Israel was intercontinental. Mind blown.
PTownsend
But Biden has not been convicted of any felonies, and he does not talk about what a horrible country the US is. I think Biden actually likes being a US citizen and likes living in the US, unlike TP Guy and his cult members. Reminder the subways are clean in Minsk and Moscow, at least as reported by a Murdoch entertainer known for spreading disinformation.
TaiwanIsNotChina
No prior liberal has run against a felon and a traitor before.
Peter Neil
i say a constitutional amendment to add 65-years old maximum age for president.
what a disgrace, both of them.
fxgai
Why do news reports make claims about falsehoods?
Stick to reporting the news, the people can make their own judgements about the statements made.
stormcrow
Not Biden's best night, but he still sounds much more sane than Trump. In Trump's case, you need a special filter to through the load of BS he throws against the fan. Unfortunately, this technique works because people believe it and don't hear or blindly ignore what the fact checkers say later. Didn't Hitler say, given the choice, to tell the big lie. It's as if Trump has Hitler's playbook for the way to power.
Judge by what he does / did, not by what he says / said. Trump is a proven liar, convicted felon, (likely) a rapist, a traitor to his country who attempted an insurrection, a good friend of dictators across the globe including Putin, and Kim Jong Un, etc., an enemy of NATO and Ukraine, and the list goes on and on. If this man wins, he'll be far worse and more dangerous than he was during his first term. For the most part, America was lucky and dodged a bullet with Trump the first time around that things weren't much worse, but a second time around with Trump is highly questionable.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The missiles can be intercontinental and considering some people think Israel is part of Europe, it isn't too far of a stretch.
TaiwanIsNotChina
We don't live in 1950. Somebody has to clean up after Trump.
nukkuheddo
if Trump was rushed to intensive care and his very life depended on him telling the Dr. the truth...would he still lie?
Ramsey's Kitchen
*No, it did not. There was no overthrow of the regime, the president fled to Russia, and the US was not involved.*
Yes, it did. Maidan was a textbook example of an overthrow of legitimate government through violent means. The revolt was formented and assisted by US intelligence interests.
bass4funk
He said he didn't have sex with her.
How does one describe a cult leader? We all see people differently.
Mr Kipling
TaiwanIS China...
Got to get his anti China hatred into ever article. Sad. But you are not wrong about there being two terrible candidates.
deanzaZZR
"He (Joe Biden) could be a convicted felon as soon as he is out of office"
Third World status confirmed. It's basically like the Philippines at this point.
Ricky Kaminski13
Taiwan, not sure a change in any system can fix what’s going on. The problem has become deep rooted and is a psychological one. Their society is regressing rather than progressing, and everyone is responsible for the fall from either making it happen or letting it!
The pointing fingers gets everyone nowhere. We can only hope a new generation of capable leaders is born from inside the mess but who knows, maybe those that hate their own country have won. It’s definitely game on.
deanzaZZR
"You have the morals of an alley cat" LOL USA! USA!
stormcrow
One more thing, Trump should not be allowed to run for any political office (let alone president) ever again because of his role on January 6th. Absolutely treasonous. What Pres. Richard Nixon did before being forced to resign was far less serious than what Trump has done.
TaiwanIsNotChina
And what were the violent means? US supplied baseball bats?
Blacklabel
buuuuuuut Trump narrative Is useless after that horrific Biden performance.
TaiwanIsNotChina
(Outlandish statement) Herpaderp America so failed!!!
TaiwanIsNotChina
We got here from an electoral system that promotes division. A system that promotes unity is the answer and there are such systems.
bass4funk
Why? He wasn't charged with a crime, so he can.
This admin. has been treasonous to its citizens and the Constitution.
What did Trump do?
Slayer
What has happened to the posters on JT? Even CNN has said Biden has to go. Stop with this nonsense and let the old man sail away into the sunset. You can still be a Democrat, just pick another candidate.
falseflagsteve
Mr Biden has as much chance of winning anything this year as Sunak and Zelensky. He should be replaced with someone who still has his faculties. This is elder abuse and it’s very sad to see him in a confused state and rambling incoherently. Give the man some dignity before it’s too late.
Ramsey's Kitchen
I did not have sex with a porn star," replied Trump, who chose not to testify at his trial.
lol, sure brought back memories of the " I did not have sex with that woman, Ms Lewinsky.." ,.Good old Bill.
u_s__reamer
Trump, the "Projection Meister of Meisters", repeatedly accused Biden of making America a laughing stock in the eyes of the world and responsible for the country having lost the international respect when that happened in 2016 and the world doubled down on the disrespect on the day of the January 6th riots. Biden has also brought the country into a rogue status with his genocidal policies against the Palestinians. The fact that a convicted felon is allowed onto the stage to pose as a decent candidate for president puts the cherry on the disgrace.
Peter Neil
good point. he’s never done anything.
same promises he made 8 years ago and didn’t do it.
Blacklabel
No undecided voter is going to now choose Biden based on THAT.
Even if they won’t vote Trump cause of feeeeelings, they will vote not Biden or not at all.
but but he had a cold! Lol
Express sister
Really bad performance from Biden. Trump barely answered any questions (he never even touched “how would you implement your giant deportation plan”, for example) and instead of pointing that out with like, “as you can see Jake, he didn’t answer your question, because he can’t”, he just replayed “malarkey” and repeated it in varying forms. Or he could have pointed out that Trump was praising himself for “sending abortion laws to the states”, but then whining that states aren’t doing what he wants, so he wants to enact federal laws (not to mention the lies of “they kill babies after birth”, which is just so egregious that it beggars belief), but he just let Trump ramble and responded only to the most surface level things.
Awful choices for the country.
fxgai
So the question is will Trump be President or some other Democratic candidate, right?
bass4funk
280 previous Presidential accomplishments written and documented say otherwise, not only that, he eviscerated Biden, it was actually sad, felt bad for the guy.
bass4funk
Yes
He answered the best he could, first he needs to get his cabinet into place before he can tell you what his plans are exactly, so at this point he doesn't need to prematurely give his hand on how he will deal with it, as long as he does, that is the most important thing.
Well, he didn't and that is fine because he wasn't going to touch that issue. After all, that is not what the majority of Americans care about, the border, the economy, jobs, illegals, and crime that was his focus.
I think Trump is a great choice. But for the leftist Marxist agenda, it is doom and gloom, no doubt about that.
ian
Anyone winning is okay. Those two in their own way are a good reflection of America so it's a toss up
Express sister
He didn’t answer at all. But I agree that “nothing” is Trump’s best.
No he doesn’t.
He does.
Because he knows it’s toxic to voters. Which is why Biden should have hammered him on it, but he didn’t. Big missed opportunity for Biden.
More proof, if more were needed, that he’s a terrible choice.
bass4funk
He did, he just didn't take the left bait.
He does, he is the President NOT a dictator or do you want that? He should bypass Congress?
You mean, be like Joe and tell your enemy what you won't do? No wonder our enemies want Democrat Presidents.
Well, Joe had his chance, but even then, being able to put food on my table and gas in my car is more important for my daily life than killing a defenseless child.
Then if that is true, Trump would be lagging behind Biden in the polls.
JJE
That wasn't a train wreck for Joe. It was a devastating plane crash.
Painful to watch.
BB
Biden has good points to make but he looks lost all the time and gets buried in the flurry of nonsense.
Cheradenine Zakalwe
Trump is an existential threat to American democracy and on the record as wanting to wield authoritarian powers to set up a fundamentalist corporate backed rogue state.
https://www.americanprogress.org/series/project-2025-exposing-the-far-right-assault-on-america/
He showed the dangers of his chaotic incompetence during his administration and it is astonishing to me that he is steps away from the White House again.
President Biden is the so-called leader of the free world but he is not the man to oppose Trump.
It is time for some deep soul-searching amongst the American political establishment.
rcch
I (still) didn’t watch the debate (I’m at work in Tokyo and busy) but from what I’m hearing and from what I’m reading, oh boy, what a disaster (it couldn’t get any worse than this(this was his chance) ). You know it was bad when they’re already talking about replacing him (Biden, of course). I guess the drugs/energy drinks/whatever didn’t work(?), lmao, nah, just kidding, heheh.
A very poor decision by the Biden campaign which will probably cost him the presidency. BUT let’s be honest, this man cannot and should not be the President of the United States (4+4 is a long time—enough damage has been made—America and the West are in need of a Trump administration). Trump, even with all his flaws, will be a better President.
Note: To all the “anti–Trump” folks out there: let’s all get along.
JJE
Reading the article, one wonders whether they watched the same debate as everyone else. That was an absolute shocker for Joe.
His top donors are sounding the alarm bells, saying fundraising will dry up. Muffled calls to push him aside are now turning into a chorus with a brokered convention.
quercetum
President Biden’s shaky, halting debate performance has Democrats talking about replacing him on the ticket.
The writing is on the wall. I posted the other day, they’re going to replace Biden. You know they will. Trump has already taken out Biden.
bass4funk
He didn't do it the last time he was President, so by all indications that won't happen this time around either should he be re-elected, stop letting the left spook you.
That would be like saying Mother Jones or the Lincoln Project speaks for all Americans, they do not.
Half of the country likes and trusts the man, they are all wrong? All of them???
And our enemies think Biden is a serious joke.
Now that is something I can agree with you on.
Express sister
Detailing your policies is not “bait”.
Trump has already said that he will be a dictator and regularly bypassed congress as president, and has promised to do it again.
This just isn’t true.
Even your beloved Fox News was freaking out because Trump was behind Biden in their poll. But it’ll probably get closer after Biden’s weak performance today.
Simon Foston
By all accounts they were both completely useless in different ways.
JJE
If this was a boxing match, the referee would have stopped the match in the third round.
DJT won the evening, and it wasn’t even close. He took command from the outset - Biden claimed he inherited 9% inflation, which Trump shot down with the facts (pointing out it went from almost none to that after 14 months. Biden just wasn't up to the challenge.
plasticmonkey
Biden did not appear strong, and did not articulate his policy positions well. But the ideas were there, and most of them were coherent and reasonable.
Trump had energy, but he lied about virtually everything and answered almost none of the questions asked. He was absolutely off the rails.
I'll vote for substance over entertainment.
Zaphod
"Sometimes halting"?? Talk trying to put lipstick on a pig. CNN went to such extremes to tilt the tables in favour of Biden, and he still crashed. What an epic disaster. Trump did a good job in controlling his temper and staying quiet.... the more Biden speaks, the more clear the trainwreck.
Now I am just curious of CNN tries to claim their show as a "cheap fake"...
plasticmonkey
“Because I offered [Pelosi] 10,000 soldiers or National Guard and she turned them down.”
FALSE
“[Biden] wants to raise your taxes by four times.”
FALSE
“The problem they have is they’re radical because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth, after birth.”
FALSE
“What he’s done to the Black population is horrible, including the fact that for 10 years he called them ‘super predators.’ … We can’t forget that - super predators … And they’ve taken great offense at it.”
FALSE (It was Hillary Clinton who used that term.)
"We had the greatest economy in history.”
FALSE
“If I didn’t bring in the National Guard, [Minneapolis] would have been destroyed.”
FALSE (The governor of Minnesota did.)
bass4funk
They are on his website and all you have to do is look at his rallies, he is very explicit about his plans.
Again, he was already President, there is nothing that even remotely shows that he would be, nothing. Seriously, stop buying into the media meltdown fake stories or your nose will grow.
It is, it is on record. If you want, it is public information
That was one state: Virginia and they are now tied, but after today's debate, he will surpass Biden's lead.
Biden will need a miracle to win at this point.