Biden faced former President Donald Trump in the first official debate of the 2024 election cycle on Thursday — and no one knew what to expect.
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The President’s health has been a hot topic throughout his presidency, as voters ask themselves if the 81-year-old can manage another four years in office.
Trump has often promoted the idea that Biden is too old to run, although he is just a few years younger at 78.
CNN host Van Jones became emotional when discussing Biden’s appearance and demeanor during the debate and asked a post-event panel whether they thought Biden was right for the job given his health.
Many voters also said on social media that they were tuning into the debate in part to check up on the President’s performance and energy levels — and they did not like what they saw.
X-user Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) shared a clip of Biden freezing up and looking off into the distance while trying to finish a sentence during the debate.
“This is the only moment in the debate that really matters. Biden can’t finish a sentence. This is the exact thing he needed to avoid, but he couldn’t,” he wrote alongside the video.
Thousands of people liked the post and dozens left comments.
NOT THEIR FIRST RODEO
When Biden and Trump matched up in September 2020, over 73 million people tuned into what became an infamously chaotic debate that this year’s hosts have vowed not to repeat.
Despite the pandemonium, 73 million viewers tuned in for a chance to see the candidates in action, according to Nielsen Media — making it the third most-watched televised debate ever.
To avoid a similar showdown on Thursday, CNN decided to mute each candidate’s mics when not their turn to speak and take away the studio audience.
Speakers were not allowed to bring any props or notes onto the stage and were not permitted to speak to their staff during the two scheduled breaks.
The differences may have contributed to some viewers’ negative conclusions that the event was “dry” and even “the worst debate” some had ever seen.
What are Trump and Biden’s platforms?
A look at what issues matter most to the candidates.
Biden’s talking points:
- The importance of democracy after the January 6 attack on the Capitol
- Advocate for abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with a 6-3 judgment in 2022
- His Build Back Better plan, the $2.2 trillion infrastructure spending bill introduced in 2021
- Support for Ukraine and Israel while they are at war
- Highlight the strong US economy and low unemployment rates during his presidency
Trump’s talking points:
- Slam issues at the US-Mexico border, which was a critical talking point for his 2016 win
- Criticize the slew of criminal and civil lawsuits filed against him
- Applaud the Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Discuss a plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, although he hasn’t said which country he wants to win
- Advocate for parents’ rights to regulate and restrict discussion of gender, sexuality, and race in schools
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