In a heated clash, President Joe Biden struggled to fend off a barrage of attacks from former President Donald Trump, sparking renewed questions about Biden’s fitness for a second term.
The debate, the first ever between a sitting and former president, was marked by personal insults and heated exchanges as the two septuagenarians battled for political supremacy.
The 81-year-old Biden appeared faltering at times, stumbling on his words and failing to maintain the same level of energy as the 78-year-old Trump, a veteran of high-intensity rallies. Biden’s raspy, trailing-off delivery concerned even members of his own party, with one former aide acknowledging it was a “really disappointing” performance.
Trump seized on Biden’s halting moments, at one point quipping: “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”
The debate comes as polls show a tight race for the November election, with Trump either tied or ahead of the incumbent. Biden’s supporters had hoped the prime-time showdown would help steady his campaign, but the president’s stumbles may have instead fueled doubts about his ability to serve a full four-year term.
In a post-debate interview, Vice President Kamala Harris sought to put a positive spin on Biden’s performance, saying there was a “slow start” but a “strong finish.” However, a CNN poll found that 67% of viewers believed Trump had won the debate.
The clash featured few new policy proposals, with much of the discourse descending into personal attacks. Biden sought to hit Trump over his character, accusing him of having the “morals of an alley cat.” Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly questioned Biden’s mental acuity and coherence.
On key issues like foreign policy and abortion, the two men rehashed familiar battle lines, underscoring the deep partisan divide that has defined their long rivalry.
As the 2024 campaign heats up, Biden’s supporters will be hoping he can regain his footing and quell concerns about his age and stamina. But Thursday’s debate may have further emboldened Trump’s camp and those who believe the president is simply too old for the demands of the office.
