Biden and Trump Face Off in First U.S. Presidential Debate
The first U.S. presidential debate of 2024 included a contentious discussion on Thursday night between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The two presidents got into acrimonious debates right once about important topics including foreign policy, immigration from Mexico, and the US economy.
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Biden and Trump Exchange Sharp Criticisms on Leadership, Migration, and Foreign Policy in First U.S. Presidential Debate
Trump, speaking from the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, sharply criticised Biden’s leadership, asserting, “We’re like a Third World nation and it’s a shame.” He added, “We’re no longer respected,” and blamed Biden for the nation’s woes, calling him “the worst president in American history.”
Biden, unfazed, countered Trump’s remarks by pointing to a group of historians who recently rated Trump as the worst among all 46 U.S. presidents. “This guy has no sense of American democracy,” Biden retorted.
Migration was a hot topic, with Trump accusing Biden of exacerbating the issue. During his administration, Trump asserted, “We had the safest border in the world,” implying that the present state of affairs was grave. Biden, however, argued that his administration’s tighter restrictions have resulted in 40% fewer migrants crossing the border.
Foreign policy was another contentious issue. Trump pledged to end Russia’s war with Ukraine and secure the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from a Russian prison, but offered no specifics. Biden responded by labelling Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a war criminal” and questioning Trump’s approach to NATO.
Throughout the debate, the candidates frequently accused each other of lying, with Biden attacking Trump over the January 6 Capitol riot and Trump’s legal troubles. Despite Biden’s efforts, a post-debate CNN survey indicated that Trump emerged as the convincing winner, with a 67-33% margin. As the oldest presidents in U.S. history, both candidates remain in a tight race, with national polls showing a virtual dead heat.
