Biden mocks Trump at campaign stop on day after debate performance that left Democrats panicking: Live updates

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

Biden addresses debate performance: ‘I don’t debate as well as I used to’

President Joe Biden gave a fiery speech to a campaign rally in North Carolina on Friday, a day after he struggled badly in the first television debate of the 2024 presidential election cycle against Donald Trump, as Democrats looked on in horror.

Referring to Trump as a “one-man crime wave” the president acknowledged his age and limitations but said the stakes were too high and promised he could do the job. He also received the backing of former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama in social media posts.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden later flew to New York to speak at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center alongside Elton John.

During the CNN showdown in Atlanta, Biden appeared frail and raspy, with the White House later saying he had a cold. Amid gaffes and misstatements, the president later rallied to rebuke Trump over his sordid personal history and record in office.

Trump repeated lies and falsehoods throughout, often failing to answer questions. He was pressed three times on whether he would accept November’s results.

Pundits discussed the possibility of Biden stepping down as the Democratic candidate. Lobbying for Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, or Gretchen Whitmer to take over has reportedly begun.

Key Points

• Biden comes out swinging at Trump after debate disaster
• Trump pulls no punches as president struggles in CNN debate
• ‘Morals of an alley cat’: Biden lays into Trump over sexual abuse and porn star affair claims
• Snap poll: Who won the debate?
• US Supreme Court to deliver ruling on Trump’s presidential immunity claim on Monday
• Biden speaks at the opening ceremony of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center

[28 June 2024 15:55 · Joe Sommerlad]

‘I give up’: Hollywood reacts to Trump-Biden debate

This is the only star opinion that matters...

...but here’s Tom Murray with more celebrity reaction to last night’s hot mess.

[28 June 2024 15:35 · Joe Sommerlad]

Trump fundraising email declares: ‘I love CNN’

Presented without comment.

[28 June 2024 15:15 · Joe Sommerlad]

House minority leader tells Biden not to step away from nomination

Hakeem Jeffries (sort of) calling for calm here (in the briefest, gruffest way possible) after last night’s debate.

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi has also been declining to come out unequivocally for Biden this morning, but does offer this attack on Trump.

Jim Clyburn, 83, has also been revealing a surprise turn of pace that few thought he still had in him. Bravo sir!

If you’re wondering about the extent of liberal panic right now, look no further than this...

[28 June 2024 14:55 · Joe Sommerlad]

Joe Scarborough: ‘The worst debate performance in modern political history'

The co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, himself a former congressman, did not mince words on his show this morning, denouncing Biden’s debate performance and turning his ire on California governor Gavin Newsom for standing up for the president immediately after last night’s debacle.

Newsome said in the immediate aftermath: “I will never turn my back on President Biden. I don’t know a Democrat in my party that would do so. And especially after tonight. We have his back. We run not the 90-yard dash. We’re all in, we’re going to double down in the next few months. We’re gonna win this election.”

But Scarborough was having none of it, addressing Newsom directly as he said: “You are hurting America by closing your eyes, putting your head down and saying we’re going to plough ahead with what we all saw last night…

“It was the worst debate performance in modern political history.”

Guests Eugene Robinson and John Heilemann were equally unsparing – all of which comes as a doubly cruel blow for Biden as Morning Joe is apparently his favourite show!

[28 June 2024 14:35 · Joe Sommerlad]

Biden says Border Patrol endorsed him. They say different

The president claimed that the US Border Patrol endorsed him during Thursday’s presidential debate – but its union immediately shot back and denied it.

John Bowden has more.

[28 June 2024 14:25 · Joe Sommerlad]

Biden rejects calls to drop out and commits to second debate in September

The president is refusing to go quietly after last night’s disaster as speculation about panicking Democrats racing to replace him continues to run rife.

As it stands, he’s still down to appear at a second debate with Trump on ABC scheduled for Tuesday 10 September.

[28 June 2024 14:15 · Joe Sommerlad]

Biden calls Trump a ‘whiner’

I can think of a lot worse things to call him.

Here’s Alex Woodward on Biden failing to take his opportunities to hold his rival to account.

[28 June 2024 13:55 · Joe Sommerlad]

Trump says he won’t block abortion pill

“I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it,” Trump said last night of the US Supreme Court’s decision to throw out a challenge to the federal government’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.

John Bowden has more.

[28 June 2024 13:35 · Joe Sommerlad]

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

Biden confronted Trump for the first time in person about his role on January 6 2021, asking him to denounce the far-right Proud Boys gang once again as well as the other rioters who attacked the US Capitol in part of a Trump-encouraged bid to stop the certification of the 2020 election results in Congress.

Alex Woodward reports on the Republican’s response.

[28 June 2024 13:15 · Joe Sommerlad]

Biden lays into Trump over sexual abuse and porn star affair claims

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key exchanges.

Katie Hawkinson has this on Biden’s attack on Trump over Stormy Daniels and having “the morals of an alley cat”.