Biden's "cold", an argument about golf and the missing Melania
*The first TV debate between US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump produced many expected scenes: Trump spread false lies, Biden attacked the convicted criminal with his moral failings. Surprisingly harsh even. But the duel also offered the unexpected: Biden's unsettling performance, for example. Is it due to a fever? Additionally, Trump and Biden engaged in a bizarre argument over their golf skills. Melania Trump also asked questions. Here's a brief recap.
Biden's "fever": Kamala Harris went to great lengths to soften Biden's performance after the CNN debate. "Yes, it was a rocky start, but there was also a very strong finish," the US Vice President commented. "People can discuss style, but ultimately this election should be about substance."
However, the debate itself will likely make the biggest pundits of Biden pause. While the 81-year-old Trump attacked unusually harshly, calling the convicted criminal a "clown" and a "loser," and accused him of having the "moral integrity of a sewer rat," most viewers will likely remember the unsettling performance of the US President himself. Biden's answers were muddled, hesitant, and stuttering. Commentators and analysts showed no mercy: The debate would cause "panic" within the Democratic Party, they all agreed. David Axelrod, Chief Strategist of Barack Obama's presidential campaigns, put it succinctly on CNN: "There will be discussions about whether he'll continue."
Even Biden's team seemed concerned about his performance during the debate. While it was still going on, they announced that Biden was suffering from a "fever." According to US media, the 81-year-old had even taken a coronavirus test, which had come back negative. Could this really be the explanation for his disjointed performance?
A bizarre golf showdown: Besides topics like illegal immigration, the Russian attack on Ukraine, and the economic development of the US, Joe Biden and Donald Trump also found time for the truly important questions: Who is the better golfer? He can hit the ball very far, Biden can't even hit 50 yards, Trump boasted, as he was asked about his age. "I think I'm in very good shape," the 78-year-old countered.
This didn't sit well with Biden: "I managed to lower my golf handicap from 8 to 6 during my tenure as Vice President," Biden explained. "That's a lie, I've seen your swing," Trump countered.
The solution? A golf match. Biden would love to play golf with Trump, he said. But only if Trump carried his golf bag alone. "Do you think you can handle that?" Biden asked his challenger. Biden also criticized Trump for his weight - and his cognitive abilities: "This guy is three years younger and much less competent," Biden said about Trump.*
The billionaire then boasted about passing two cognitive tests he had taken. "I aced both of them," Trump beamed. He wanted to see how Biden would perform on such a test. "Go ahead. Just one, a simple one, just the first five questions." Even the billionaire found it too much: "Let's not behave like children," Trump ended the argument almost graciously.
Where is Melania? Unlike Trump, Joe Biden can always rely on the support of his wife. First Lady Jill Biden accompanied her husband to the first TV debate in Atlanta and appeared on stage with him after the exchange. Jill Biden has been very present in the campaign - unlike Melania Trump. The former First Lady was missing at her husband's first TV debate, as well as at other appearances. After the debate, Trump left the stage alone.
- During the US presidential election 2024, speculations about Joe Biden's fitness for office may arise, recalling his unsettling performance in the 2020 debates against Donald Trump.
- Despite Melania Trump's absence from her husband's 2020 TV debate appearances, Jill Biden has been a consistent presence and strong support for Joe Biden in his campaigns.
- In the 2020 TV debates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden engaged in a humorous exchange about their golf skills, with Trump boasting about his distance while Biden mentioned lowering his handicap as vice president.
