Hello everyone! Thursday night was quite the spectacle as President Biden and former President Trump went head-to-head in the first of their two debates for the 2024 election rematch. Let’s dive into the key moments and what they mean for both campaigns.
First off, President Biden faced some challenges with his voice, which his campaign attributed to a cold. This only added to a few fumbled answers and moments of lost train of thought. At 81 years old, Biden is the oldest president in American history, and this debate highlighted some concerns about his physical and mental stamina.
The debate covered a wide range of issues: the economy, inflation, immigration, abortion, climate change, the January 6th attack, and overseas conflicts. Biden emphasized his administration’s economic gains, pointing to job creation and lower prescription drug costs, though he admitted more work is needed. Trump countered with the fact of our current high inflation and claimed he had created the “greatest economy in the world” before the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of Biden’s rough patches came when he struggled to finish an answer about the economy, leading Trump to mock him for “beating Medicaid to death.” Biden’s responses on immigration and abortion also wavered, giving Trump more opportunities to pounce. The former president celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, while Biden vowed to restore it if re-elected.
A poignant moment was when Biden invoked his late son Beau, who served in Iraq, to counter Trump’s reported disparagement of fallen soldiers. Trump vehemently denied ever calling troops “suckers and losers” and attacked Biden over the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The debate also touched on Trump’s recent legal troubles, with Biden calling him a “convicted felon” and referencing Trump’s alleged affair with a porn star. Trump fired back by bringing up Hunter Biden’s legal issues and suggested Biden himself could face charges after his presidency.
On the topic of the January 6th attack, Trump remained unapologetic and continued to claim the 2020 election was rigged. When asked about accepting the 2024 election results, Trump said he would if the vote was “fair” and “legal,” leaving room for more controversy.
After the debate, Biden spoke to supporters, expressing confidence and readiness for the next debate. Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged a slow start but praised Biden’s strong finish. Meanwhile, Trump and his campaign declared a decisive victory, using Biden’s struggles as fuel for their campaign.
The debate’s impact was mixed. Biden’s team highlighted Trump’s falsehoods and record-breaking grassroots fundraising, while critics pointed to Biden’s uneven performance as a sign of his potential unfitness for office. Both candidates now continue their campaigns in key battleground states, aiming to secure crucial votes.
However, one of Trump’s best moments was when he pointed out the obvious on Live TV, fully countering the White House’s “cheap fake” theme for Biden.
“I don’t know what he said at the end of the sentence I don’t really think he knows what he said either.”
The BEST moment 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Pea6UeRqjV
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 28, 2024
This debate has set the stage for an intense and closely watched election. Stay tuned as we approach the next showdown on September 10th, where the candidates will have another chance to make their case to the American people.
