US- Biden Falls Flat in First 2024 Presidential Debate
President Joe Biden and Donald Trump faced off in the first debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential race, both aiming to gain an edge in what has been a tight contest.
Despite starting strong in Thursday’s debate, Biden struggled at times to clearly articulate his points, occasionally fumbling his words.
As soon as Biden stepped on stage, the Democratic president seemed to wobble, muttering as he approached the podium.
Still, as he faced the first question of the night, Biden came out swinging, seeking to dent Trump’s popularity by attacking the Republican’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We had an economy that was in free fall,” Biden told the room, which was largely empty except for two CNN moderators, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper. “By the time he left, things were in chaos. Things were in chaos. So we put things back together.”
Trump, on the other hand, seized the opportunity to highlight Biden’s perceived weaknesses, shifting the conversation to issues like immigration and the economy.
He also attempted to dodge questions about whether he would honour the results of November 5’s presidential election, saying he would only do so if it was “fair” and “free” – and then reiterating false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.
“The fraud and everything else was ridiculous,” he said at one point, casting doubt on President Biden’s win in 2020.
Trump currently faces two criminal indictments – one in Georgia and another in Washington, DC – over his alleged attempts to subvert those election results.
Biden, meanwhile, sought to defend the US’s standing in the world.
“I’ve never heard a president talk like this before. We’re the envy of the world. Name me a single major country that wouldn’t trade places with the United States of America,” said Biden at one point.
“No one thinks we’re weak. No one wants to screw around with us. Nobody.”
Trump, however, fired back at one point: “Joe, our country is being destroyed as you and I sit up here and waste a lot of time on this debate.”
However, despite criticisms of Biden’s debate-night performance, Democrats rallied around the president in the hours after the event, repeating accusations that Trump represents an existential threat to US democracy.
“You don’t turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that?” said California Governor Gavin Newsom when asked if Biden should step down. “This president has delivered. We need to deliver for him at this moment.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, acknowledged weaknesses but said the president turned out a good performance in the end.
“Yes there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish,” she said in an interview on CNN.
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