Biden and Trump clashed in a heated debate on Thursday, marked by sharp personal attacks. The debate raised concerns about President Biden’s ability to serve a second term due to his age and performance.
During the debate, Trump criticized Biden’s handling of the economy and international affairs, calling him a failure. Biden attempted to respond, but his speech was often halting and unclear. This performance worried many in the Democratic Party, as polls show Trump is either tied with or leading Biden for the upcoming November election.
This debate was historic, being the first between a sitting president and a former president. Both accused each other of being the worst in history, and at one point, they even insulted each other’s golf swings, calling each other childish.
Biden, who is 81, and Trump, 78, did not shake hands at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta. There was no live audience, and their microphones were muted when the other spoke. Biden, reportedly having a cold, delivered rehearsed lines against Trump, aiming to remind viewers that Trump could be the first convicted felon in the White House. “You have the morals of an alley cat,” Biden said.
Trump, known for his rallies and TV experience, spoke loudly and listed his grievances with Biden’s presidency. “I’m friends with a lot of people. They cannot believe what happened to the United States of America. We’re no longer respected,” Trump said.
Trump took advantage of Biden’s faltering delivery, 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.”
Vice President Kamala Harris tried to manage the situation, saying Biden’s record was “extraordinarily strong” but acknowledged the debate’s issues. “Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish,” she said. Kate Bedingfield, a former Biden communications director, said on CNN that “it was a really disappointing” evening for Biden.
A CNN poll showed that 67 percent of viewers thought Trump won the debate. The Democratic Party is set to nominate Biden formally in August in Chicago, with few options to change course unless Biden withdraws himself.
Biden’s performance fueled concerns about his ability to handle the presidency, with Princeton historian Julian Zelizer stating that Biden’s supporters would be “extremely concerned.” At a watch party in San Francisco, Hazel Reitz, who still supports Biden, said, “I can’t understand a word that he says. Isn’t it sad?”