United States President, Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in a fiery first presidential debate for the 2024 election on Thursday night.
Held in Atlanta and moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the debate saw both candidates trading barbs over key issues like the economy, health care, immigration, and the January 6 Capitol attack.
Economic Policies: A Battle of Records
President Biden, grappling with a hoarse voice and several speaking missteps, defended his economic record. He attributed the current inflation woes to Trump’s mishandling of the economy and the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “We inherited an economy in freefall. We’ve lowered prices, including for essential medicines like insulin.”
Trump countered by claiming his administration presided over the “greatest economy” in U.S. history, although his statements often veered from the facts. “Under my leadership, the U.S. had the best economy, unlike this current situation,” Trump declared, despite criticisms that his economic growth claims are inflated compared to historical data.
Abortion and Health Care: Divergent Views
On health care and abortion, Trump praised the Supreme Court’s decision to preserve access to the abortion pill mifepristone and emphasized his role in appointing justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. “States are now working it out,” Trump said, underscoring his support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and risks to the mother’s life.
Biden pushed back, calling Trump’s portrayal of universal opposition to Roe v. Wade “ridiculous” and emphasizing that many constitutional scholars had supported it. He struggled with specifics during the debate, confusing Medicare and Medicaid, which Trump exploited by mockingly stating, “He did beat Medicaid, he beat it to death.”
Immigration and Security: Sharp Exchanges
The debate also delved into immigration policies and the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump accused Biden of opening the borders to criminals and terrorists, a claim Biden flatly denied. “There’s no data to back up his wild exaggerations,” Biden said, dismissing Trump’s assertions.
When questioned about the January 6 Capitol attack, Trump deflected by citing his administration’s accomplishments, including low taxes and energy independence, and criticized Biden for allegedly diminishing U.S. respect on the global stage. “We were respected all over the world, now we’re laughed at,” Trump asserted.
Personal Attacks and Competence Questions
The debate often turned personal, with both candidates questioning each other’s competence. Trump labeled Biden the “worst president in history,” while Biden cited surveys of political scientists naming Trump as the worst. Biden addressed concerns about his age by highlighting his long tenure and past achievements, while Trump, also facing age-related questions, pointed to his recent cognitive test results and golf successes as evidence of his fitness for office.
Acceptance of Election Results: A Contentious Issue
On the issue of election integrity, Trump hinted he would only accept the results if they were “fair and legal,” reiterating unfounded claims of fraud from the 2020 election. Biden criticized Trump’s refusal to accept past results, calling him a “whiner” and asserting that no court had found merit in his fraud claims. “The idea if you lose again, you accepting anything, you can’t stand the loss,” Biden challenged.
The debate, lasting 90 minutes, offered a preview of the contentious battle ahead as both candidates vie for the presidency in the 2024 election.
