U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump engaged in their first televised debate ahead of the November elections. The CNN Presidential Debate, held in Atlanta, began at 9:00 PM local time on Thursday evening. This was the first time in nearly four years that the two candidates came together to persuade voters to support them.
Throughout the 90-minute debate, Biden’s occasional difficulty in articulating his thoughts and moments of incoherence caused concern among Democrats. Speaking to CNN immediately after the debate, Biden’s former communications director Kate Bedingfield remarked, “This was not a good debate for Joe Biden.” Bedingfield noted that Biden failed to demonstrate energy and resilience.
David Plouffe, who managed former President Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008, commented on MSNBC after the debate, saying, “It looked like there was a 30-year age difference between Trump and Biden.” Biden’s team claimed that the President’s hoarse voice was due to illness, despite his better performance as the debate progressed.
Vice President Kamala Harris responded to criticisms of Biden in a CNN interview, stating, “Yes, it was a slow start but a strong finish.”
Trump, on the other hand, was noted for avoiding the combative demeanor he exhibited during the 2020 debates and largely focusing his attacks on Biden’s record. However, the former president was repeatedly pointed out for making unsupported claims and occasionally presenting completely false information.