(ATLANTA, GA) — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participated in a CNN debate Thursday night, marking their first head-to-head encounter of the 2024 election campaign. The debate offered a chance for voters to compare the two leading candidates’ side-by-side.
Biden’s performance during the more than 90-minute debate drew significant attention, particularly regarding concerns about his age and mental sharpness. Throughout the debate, Biden, 81, faced challenges in delivering clear and energetic responses. His voice was hoarse, and he struggled through some answers, which his campaign later attributed to a cold. A notable moment came when Biden, in addressing rising costs, misspoke and said, “We finally beat Medicare,” a clip that was quickly highlighted by the Trump campaign on social media instantly.
During a discussion on immigration, Biden stammered while expressing support for tougher border laws. Trump, 78, responded by questioning Biden’s clarity, stating, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said, either.” Trump continued to criticize Biden’s border policies, attributing them to increased crime in the U.S.
This early debate in the election year provided voters with a glimpse of both candidates’ current states and campaign strategies. The performance of both Biden and Trump will likely influence voter perceptions as the campaign progresses.
As the election season continues, these debate performances underscore the critical issues and concerns that voters will consider when making their decisions at the polls.
