The eyes of the public around the world were focused on the televised debate between US President Joseph Biden and former President Donald Trump. The two political veterans entered into a direct conflict in the first moments of last night’s debate, which was unlike any before. IPESE brings you an overview of the key topics discussed, the impressions each candidate left, and who emerged as the debate’s frontrunner according to the latest polls.
Last night’s debate marked the first time in history that a sitting U.S. president faced a former president in such a forum. It was also the first debate since 2020 featuring either Biden, who did not face a serious challenge for the Democratic nomination, or Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee who skipped all GOP debates during the primary season. However, a good part of the public, as well as some among the Democrats, asked the question: “Is Biden an ideal candidate or should he retire?”. According to the legal procedures, that would be quite difficult, because the question is whether a new possible candidacy, voting and replacement, would be finalized by November, when the elections are held. Estimates are that in nearly 40 countries it would be almost impossible.
PUBLIC IMPRESSIONS
The roughly 90-minute event took place at CNN’s studios in Atlanta and was moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Notably, there was no audience present — a rarity for debates between presidential candidates. This debate was also the earliest presidential debate in U.S. history, as debates between general election candidates have typically begun in September or early October.
According to the CNN poll, 67% of debate watchers felt that Trump won, compared to 33% who believed Biden emerged victorious.
It is interesting that Trump spoke for 40 minutes and 12 seconds, and Biden for 35 minutes and 41 seconds. And who won? Even the Democrats, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris, could not say that Biden triumphed in the debate, but those who are critics of both say that Trump did not really excel either and that a televised “victory” does not necessarily mean a victory in the elections.
WHAT DO THE POLLS SUGGEST?
A flash poll conducted by CNN following the debate showed Trump defeating President Biden, and not by small percentage. According to the poll, 67% of debate watchers felt that Trump won, compared to 33% who believed Biden emerged victorious. This contrasts sharply with CNN’s poll following the final 2020 presidential debate, where 53% of viewers felt Biden won, compared to 39% who said Trump was the winner. Some American analysts also say: “Trump may have won the debate, but Biden will in the election.”
The debate underscored Biden’s challenge to reassure voters about his ability to lead, while Trump sought to capitalize on his opponent’s perceived weaknesses without resorting to his former disruptive tactics.
CORE ISSUES OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SHOWDOWN
The most sensitive commentary revolved around security, so Trump’s accusations that Biden will lead America into the Third World War left a planetary anxiety.
The focus was also on inflation, a critical issue for many American voters. Biden blamed Trump for the current economic challenges, stating, “What we had to do was try to put things back together again.” Biden emphasized his administration’s efforts to combat inflation and provide economic relief to Americans, acknowledging the difficulties people are facing with high costs. In his closing statement, he reiterated, “We’re going to continue to fight to bring down inflation and give people a break.”
Trump, in contrast, celebrated his economic accomplishments, claiming credit for a robust economy before the pandemic hit. He defended his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic measures taken during his tenure. Trump argued that his policies, including the 2017 tax cuts, spurred economic growth, though economic research indicates the impact was not as significant as promised.
Abortion was a major topic during the debate. Trump, who appointed three Supreme Court justices instrumental in overturning Roe v. Wade (the process in which the US Supreme Court ruled that a Texas law banning abortion is unconstitutional), reiterated his stance that abortion regulation should be left to the states. He stated he would not block access to abortion pills and supported exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Trump also falsely claimed that “every legal scholar” wanted to end federal abortion protections.
Biden, on the other hand, reaffirmed his commitment to restoring Roe v. Wade, stating, “If I’m elected, I’m going to restore Roe v. Wade.” However, his response was somewhat muddled, giving Trump an opportunity to pivot to crime committed by migrants. Immigration policy was another heated topic. Biden defended his record on border security, though his explanations were often bogged down in statistics and policy details. He highlighted efforts to reduce illegal border crossings and criticized Trump’s immigration policies.
Trump attacked Biden’s immigration policies, claiming they led to increased crime rates and asserting, “We’re living right now in a rat’s nest. They’re killing our people.” He blamed Biden for the rise in crime committed by undocumented immigrants, although there is no substantial evidence to support these claims. Biden countered that Trump was exaggerating and lying about the situation at the border, noting that illegal border crossings have dropped recently due to stricter entry restrictions.
Foreign policy discussions covered the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Trump criticized Biden’s handling of the Ukraine war, claiming it would not have started under his presidency and denouncing the aid given to Kyiv. Trump painted a bleak picture of global politics under Biden’s administration, blaming him for fueling Putin’s aggression and suggesting that world leaders no longer respect the U.S. Biden countered by emphasizing the importance of NATO and supporting Ukraine to prevent further aggression, arguing that Trump’s actions during his presidency emboldened Putin and jeopardized international stability.
Regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, Trump criticized Biden for being too lenient on the Palestinians, stating, “Let Israel finish the job.” Biden defended his administration’s support for Israel, highlighting the provision of necessary weapons and condemning Hamas for the ongoing violence.
AGE CONTROVERSIES AND GAFFES
The debate highlighted the significant age gap between the 81-year-old Biden and his 78-year-old challenger. Biden often struggled to articulate his points clearly, appearing hoarse and at times unintelligible, with words frequently running together. He stumbled particularly when citing statistics and legislation, rarely raising his voice to emphasize points. According to the Associated Press, President Biden’s team confirmed he was dealing with a common cold and has a sore throat.
Alarm started ringing for Democrats the moment Biden began speaking in a hoarse voice. Just minutes into the debate, he struggled to defend his economic record and and misstated how much his administration had lowered insulin prices. He inadvertently brought up the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan and repeatedly confused “billion” and “million,” leaving him on the defensive for much of the 90-minute debate. Joe Biden only needed to replicate the success of his State of the Union address, but instead, with less than five months until November, he reinforced the Democrats’ worst fears — that he might be losing the election to Donald Trump.
When he wasn’t speaking, Biden appeared frozen behind his podium, with his mouth open and not blinking for long stretches of time. “Biden is toast — calling it now,” said Jay Surdukowski, an attorney and Democratic activist from New Hampshire.
Trump refrained from his usual aggressive tactics, likely a strategic move to avoid the backlash from his previous debate performances. While Trump repeated his frequent election denialism, stating he’d accept the results of the 2024 election if they were “fair and legal,” he managed to keep his calm. At one point, he remarked, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said, either,” highlighting Biden’s struggles without fully exploiting them.
Trump criticized Biden’s handling of the Ukraine war, claiming it would not have started under his presidency and denouncing the aid given to Kyiv. Biden countered by arguing that Trump’s actions during his presidency emboldened Putin and jeopardized international stability.
Democrats expressed confusion and concern as they watched the first minutes of the event, as reported by Politico. “My job right now is to be really honest. Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight. And he didn’t do it,” former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told MSNBC. “He had one thing he had to accomplish. And that was reassure America that he was up to the job at his age. And he failed at that tonight.”
As noted by Reuters analysts, Biden did grow stronger as the debate went on, at one point seizing on Trump’s criminal conviction in New York. “The only person on this stage who’s a convicted felon is the man I’m looking at right now,” Biden said.
But first impressions matter — particularly to voters just tuning into the election and who were more likely to watch the first debate than the second that’s scheduled for September. And instead of setting the tone of the next phase of the presidential campaign, Biden’s shaky performance reignited fears among Democrats that the octogenarian whose mental acuity and physical fitness have stood as voters’ chief concerns about returning him to the White House might not even be able to carry the party through to November. “Time for an open convention,” one prominent operative texted.
Both candidates have agreed to one more debate before the 2024 presidential election, hosted by ABC on September 10.
Democrats didn’t try to cover up for the poor performance, but instead tried to present a unified. “It was a slow start, that’s obvious to everyone. I’m not going to debate that point,” Vice President Kamala Harris told CNN. “I’m talking about the choice in November. I’m talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime. And do we want to look at what November will bring and go on a course for America that is about a destruction of democracy?”
Trump also had his missteps. He claimed that Democrats wanted to “take the life” of a child “after birth” and exaggerated the economic strength of the country during his presidency. He reiterated his defense of the January 6 insurrectionists, delivering a lengthy speech against the convictions of hundreds of his supporters who stormed the Capitol to overturn the 2020 election results. When repeatedly asked if he would accept the election results regardless of the winner, Trump avoided giving a direct answer, ultimately stating he’d do so “if the election is fair and free.”
A central component of Biden’s campaign and debate strategy seemed to be presenting Trump as a threat to American democracy. He highlighted Trump’s criminal convictions and his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The debate underscored Biden’s challenge to reassure voters about his ability to lead, while Trump sought to capitalize on his opponent’s perceived weaknesses without resorting to his former disruptive tactics. Despite Biden’s visible difficulties, he managed to deliver sharp one-liners and personal attacks, though his overall performance was uneven. Trump’s controlled approach marked a departure from his previous debate style, aiming to present a more composed image.
Both candidates have agreed to one more debate before the 2024 presidential election. The next debate, hosted by ABC on September 10, will be crucial as both candidates aim to solidify their positions ahead of the election.
Image source: Will Lanzoni/CNN
