Presidential debate highlights: ‘Deep panic’ among Democrats after Biden’s performance as Trump spouts lies

Joe Biden and Donald Trump appeared on stage at CNN debate moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash

Biden freezes mid-answer during presidential election debate

Democrats watched in dismay on Thursday night as Joe Biden struggled in the first television debate of the 2024 presidential election against Donald Trump.

The president, hoarse and raspy, appeared low in energy during the CNN debate in Atlanta, Georgia, with the White House later saying he had a cold.

Looking his age and generally out-of-sorts, Biden mispoke at one stage and declared “we finally beat Medicare”, to which his Republican opponent responded, “I really don’t know what he said”.

The president did later rally to rebuke Trump over his sordid personal history and alleged “suckers and losers” remark regarding the military.

The businessman, meanwhile repeated lies and falsehoods throughout, often failing to answer questions and having to be pressed three times on whether he would accept the election results.

Social media went into meltdown over the spectacle of the two elderly candidates battling it out while Democrats were left in a state of “deep panic” from early on.

In post-debate analysis, CNN pundits discussed the possibility of his stepping down as the party’s candidate.

The Trump campaign swiftly declared victory and a snap poll on CNN revealed that two-thirds of voters who watched agreed.

Key Points

• Trump pulls no punches as Biden struggles in debate
• Republican candidate claims US was ‘respected all over the world’ on Jan 6
• ‘Morals of an alley cat’: Biden lays into Trump over sexual abuse and porn star affair claims
• Social media in meltdown over Trump and Biden’s debate performance
• Snap poll: Who won the debate?

[28 June 2024 04:30 · Oliver O'Connell]

Melania Trump breaks with tradition by skipping presidential debate

Melania Trump will break a long-standing tradition by not attending the 2024 presidential debate on Thursday evening.

The former first lady was nowhere to be seen when Trump deboarded his plane in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of the first debate against President Joe Biden since 2020.

Ms Trump has been largely absent from his 2024 presidential campaign. She has already missed key events, including the kickoff of the 2024 election in Iowa and her husband’s Super Tuesday victory party.

[28 June 2024 04:15 · Oliver O'Connell]

Watch: ‘Should he be in this race tomorrow morning?’

[28 June 2024 04:12 · Oliver O'Connell]

Read Biden campaign’s post-debate statement

Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon released the following statement after the debate:

“Tonight, President Biden presented a positive and winning vision for the future of America - one in which every American has a fair shot at the American dream, where every one of our rights are protected, and where our president fights to strengthen our democracy - not to tear it down.

“On the other side of the stage was Donald Trump, who offered a dark and backwards window into what America will look like if he steps foot back in the White House: a country where women are forced to beg for the health care they need to stay alive. A country that puts the interests of billionaires over working people. And a former president who not once, not twice, but three times, failed to promise he would accept the results of a free and fair election this November.

“Trump's performance tonight reminded the American people why they fired him four years ago, and reinforced just how high the stakes are this November for the future of our country.”

[28 June 2024 04:08 · Oliver O'Connell]

Social media in meltdown over Trump and Biden’s debate performance: ‘Give him one of the Panera lemonades’

Social media is having a meltdown over the first presidential debate of 2024.

Katie Hawkinson has collated some of the best reactions:

[28 June 2024 04:04 · Oliver O'Connell]

Watch: Hannity calls Biden debate performance ‘a disaster’

[28 June 2024 04:01 · Oliver O'Connell]

Watch: Joy Reid says ‘universal reaction was somewhere approaching panic'

[28 June 2024 04:01 · Oliver O'Connell]

‘Sense of shock’ among Democrats

David Axelrod, the veteran Democrat strategist, said on CNN post-debate that “there was a sense of shock” at Biden's performance from the start of the debate.

“He did get stronger as the debate went on but by that time, I think the panic had set in and I think you're going to hear discussions ... about whether he should continue.”

CNN's John King agreed that Democrats started freaking out about Biden's performance right away and are already talking about what they need to do going forward.

The phrase “Oh my God” was heard throughout the debate.

Kate Bedingfield, former White House communications director for Biden said: “It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden. I don’t think there’s any other way to slice it. His biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina — and he didn’t do that.”

[28 June 2024 04:00 · Oliver O'Connell]

Trump says US was ‘respected all over the world’ on Jan 6

President Joe Biden confronted Donald Trump for the first time in person about his role on January 6, asking him to once again denounce the far-right Proud Boys gang and those who attacked the US Capitol.

In their first debate ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the former president refused to answer whether he would condemn the attack or respond to questions about voters who are concerned that Trump violated his oath to accept elections as they prepare to cast their ballots in the next one.

CNN moderator Jake Tapper tried to ask him twice.

Alex Woodward reports.

[28 June 2024 03:56 · Oliver O'Connell]

No Biden surrogates present after debate

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg reports from the spin room in Atlanta:

“Minutes after the debate wrapped, an entire roster of Trump boosters took to the floor to declare that their candidate had won by any measure.

“Biden’s campaign had assembled a group of surrogates to speak on his behalf but they were nowhere to be found, and a Biden campaign spokesperson did not immediately reply to a text asking when or if they would be here.”

[28 June 2024 03:42 · Oliver O'Connell]

Trump declares victory

The Trump campaign released the following statement declaring victory:

“Tonight President Trump delivered the greatest debate performance and victory in history to the largest voter audience in history, making clear exactly how he will improve the lives of every American. Over and over President Trump highlighted common-sense plans to reduce inflation, bringing down the costs of groceries, housing, and gas, as well as his plans to bring back his successful first-term policies that kept our southern border secure and free from the wave of Biden Migrant Crimes currently sweeping our country.

“Joe Biden on the other hand showed exactly why he deserves to be fired. Despite taking a week-long vacation at Camp David to prepare for the debate, Biden was unable to defend his disastrous record on the economy and the border. Throughout the debate Biden lied, invented stories, and could not articulate a single plan to make things less expensive and keep our people safe, choosing instead to change the subject and dwell on the past. Even worse, Biden couldn’t explain why he took a week of vacation at Camp David while 50 ISIS terrorists ran loose in our country. President Trump is spot-on when he says that if Joe Biden is too incompetent to stand trial, then Biden is too incompetent to be President.

“Americans are struggling financially. The families of Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, Jocelyn Nungaray, and every other victim of Biden Migrant Crime are grieving. Our country is on fire at home and we stand on the brink of World War III because of Joe Biden’s incompetence. But we can turn it all around, and bring back the American Dream, starting on day one, by reelecting President Donald J. Trump.”

– Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles