Biden vs. Trump: A Debate of Personal Attacks and High Stakes
In a heated debate on Thursday, President Joe Biden struggled to address concerns about his age, while former President Donald Trump aggressively attacked his record. The face-off, marked by personal insults and tense exchanges, saw Biden faltering with a raspy voice and stumbling over his words, raising concerns among Democrats as polls show Trump gaining ground.
This historic debate, the first between a sitting president and a former president, saw both men, who were the oldest presidents when first elected, accusing each other of being the worst in history. They even exchanged jabs about their golf games, with neither shaking hands as they took their places on stage at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. The debate had no live audience, and their microphones were muted while the other spoke.
Biden’s Performance and Trump’s Attacks
Biden, 81, tried to counter Trump with prepared lines, emphasizing Trump’s status as a convicted felon. “You have the morals of an alley cat,” Biden remarked. Despite spending the week preparing, Biden’s shaky delivery worried his party. He later told reporters he had a sore throat but believed he performed well.
Trump, at 78, used his experience from rallies and reality TV to dominate the debate with loud criticisms of Biden’s record. He questioned Biden’s coherence, saying, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”
Reactions and Concerns
The debate sparked immediate reactions. Vice President Kamala Harris defended Biden’s record but admitted his slow start. Kate Bedingfield, a former Biden communications director, called the night “disappointing” for Biden. A CNN poll showed 67 percent of viewers thought Trump won.
Biden’s supporters expressed concern about his performance. Julian Zelizer, a historian at Princeton University, noted that Biden’s performance reinforced existing doubts about him.
Key Moments and Policy Clashes
The debate was light on new policies and heavy on personal attacks. In a poignant moment, Biden referenced Trump’s alleged derogatory remarks about soldiers who died in the Normandy landing, defending his late son Beau. Trump denied the accusations and questioned Biden’s coherence.
On foreign policy, Trump criticized Biden’s handling of Israel and the withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it the “most embarrassing moment” for the U.S. Biden countered by highlighting his achievement of keeping American soldiers out of harm’s way overseas.
The candidates also clashed on abortion and immigration. Biden condemned Trump’s Supreme Court appointments that led to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, saying, “It’s been a terrible thing, what you’ve done.”
Absent Candidate
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who did not meet CNN’s debate criteria, spent the evening answering questions on a livestream instead.
The debate, filled with intense exchanges and personal barbs, highlighted the high stakes and deep divisions as the country approaches the November election.
