In a highly anticipated debate on Thursday, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump clashed in a heated exchange filled with personal insults and sharp criticisms. The debate, marked by its intensity, saw Biden struggling to dispel concerns about his age and fitness for a second term while Trump delivered his usual bombastic rhetoric.
Biden’s Struggles and Trump’s Aggression
Throughout the debate, Biden, 81, appeared faltering and at times incoherent, stumbling over his words and speaking in a raspy voice. This performance, despite a week of seclusion in preparation, has sparked renewed concerns within the Democratic Party. Polls indicate a tight race, with Trump, 78, either tied or slightly ahead for the upcoming November election.
Trump seized every opportunity to attack Biden, labeling him a failure both economically and on the world stage. The former president’s delivery was confident and loud, characteristic of his reality television background, as he listed numerous grievances against Biden’s administration.
Historic Encounter Filled with Insults
This debate was unprecedented as it was the first between a sitting president and a former president. The animosity was palpable as they avoided shaking hands and traded barbs about each other’s records and personalities. Each accused the other of being the worst president in history, with Trump even mocking Biden’s clarity of speech.
At one point, Biden accused Trump of having “the morals of an alley cat,” while Trump 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.”
Democratic Party Concerns
Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to mitigate the fallout from Biden’s performance, acknowledging in a live CNN interview that while the debate started slowly, Biden finished strongly. However, other Democratic voices expressed disappointment. Kate Bedingfield, a former Biden communications director, called it “a really disappointing” evening, and a CNN poll found that 67 percent of viewers thought Trump had won.
Policy and Personal Attacks
The debate was notably devoid of new policy discussions, focusing instead on personal attacks and criticisms of each other’s past actions. In one of the more personal moments, Biden highlighted Trump’s alleged derogatory comments about soldiers and his own son Beau, who served in Iraq and later died of cancer. Trump denied making such remarks and continued to attack Biden’s coherence and leadership.
On foreign policy, Trump accused Biden of weak support for Israel and criticized the withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it “the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country.” Biden countered by emphasizing his record of keeping soldiers out of overseas conflicts.
Key Issues and the Road Ahead
The debate also touched on critical issues such as abortion and immigration, with Biden criticizing Trump’s Supreme Court appointments that led to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. Both candidates aimed to energize their respective bases with these discussions.
Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-establishment candidate, was absent from the debate, having failed to meet CNN’s criteria for participation. He instead took questions on a livestream during the debate.
As the election approaches, the debate underscores the intense and personal nature of the race, highlighting the stark contrasts between the two candidates and setting the stage for a contentious campaign season.
