US election - "Disaster": Biden fails in TV duel against Trump
Joe Biden's weak performance at the first TV debate against his challenger Donald Trump raised doubts about his fitness for the office. The 90-minute long face-off on Thursday evening (local time) was seen as a test for the 81-year-old Democrat.
During the heated exchange, Biden frequently stumbled over his words, speaking vaguely, softly, and with a hoarse voice. It was often difficult to follow the most powerful man in the world. Biden's weak performance overshadowed Trump's performance filled with lies. According to US media, the much-anticipated TV debate caused panic in the Democratic Party.
Biden is campaigning for a second term in the presidential election in early November. Trump, who is 78 years old, is also running for the Republicans. According to polls, the two are in a dead heat. A major theme in the campaign is the high age of the candidates. The TV debate marked the start of the intense phase in the US election campaign and was hosted by CNN in Atlanta, Georgia. Biden and Trump were not allowed to use cheat sheets during the debate and had to speak freely. The debate took place without a studio audience. The microphone of the presidential candidate who was not speaking was muted.
Trump declared winner of the debate
A quick survey by the US broadcaster CNN showed Trump as the clear winner of the debate. According to the survey, 67% of the respondents voted for the 78-year-old, while only 33% saw Biden as the winner. Biden said after his performance that he thought he had done "well." "I have a sore throat," he added. Harris had to defend Biden's performance on US television. US commentators were shocked by Biden's debate performance. "Biden's answers were often disconnected," said political journalist Abby Phillip.
Biden's age is a frequent topic in the campaign. He became the oldest US president ever when he moved into the White House and is now 81 years old. Trump, who is 78, is not much younger. However, alarm bells are ringing among the Democrats. The "Washington Post" reported that Biden's campaign team had admitted internally that the US president struggled on the TV stage and that his performance had damaged his candidacy. "A disaster," said a Democratic congressman to CNN - but like many critics from the party, he wanted to remain anonymous.
Biden stumbles
Biden had intensely prepared for the debate and had no public engagements in the week before the debate. He used his appearance to attack Trump unusually harshly and personally. But his attacks hardly landed, as Biden frequently stumbled over his words. Often, he seemed to be staring into space during the exchange and had his mouth open. Even on the topic of abortion, which is usually a winning issue for Democrats, Biden could not score points effectively. Abortions are necessary in some cases, he emphasized. Then he seemed to lose his train of thought and said: "There are many young women who are raped by their married relatives, by their husbands, brothers, and sisters."
At the TV spectacle, Biden and Trump were grilled by the moderators on a range of topics. The two politicians were questioned about economic policy, abortion, migration, and had to express their views on international crises such as the Russian aggression in Ukraine or the Middle East conflict. Trump went after Biden harshly, making him responsible for the Russian aggression in Ukraine and accusing him of being unfit for the presidency. "He is, without a doubt, the worst president (...) in the history of our country", Trump spat.
Trump's appearance faded into the background
In a bizarre moment, the two discussed their abilities on the golf course and challenged each other to a duel. Biden laughed at himself when he made fun of Trump's weight. In contrast, Trump spread numerous falsehoods, making inaccurate statements about certain economic data during his tenure in comparison to Biden's. Once again, the Republican refused to commit to accepting the outcome of the November election. The spectacle was surprising given Biden's performance. Trump had lost the presidential election in 2020 to Biden but still refuses to acknowledge his defeat.
The Republican, however, avoided his usual long monologues filled with self-pity. It was noticeable that Trump had traveled to Atlanta without Melania, his wife. While Jill Biden joined Biden on stage at the end of the debate, Trump was alone.
- The debate's weak performance by Joe Biden raised concerns about his suitability for the US President role.
- The heated debate between Biden and Trump during the election campaign was aired on CNN, located in Atlanta.
- The results of a quick survey by CNN declared Trump the clear winner of the election debate.
- Biden's campaign team internally acknowledged his struggle on the TV stage, damaging his candidacy in the presidential election.
- The theme of the candidates' high age was highlighted in the intense phase of the US election campaign.
- Republicans and Democrats are both running for the presidential election in November, with Trump and Biden at the forefront.
- Biden's performance was criticized by US media, with some referring to it as a 'disaster.'
- Despite his age, Trump also faced scrutiny in the US media and election campaign, with some viewing his ability as questionable.
- US President Joe Biden and Donald Trump engaged in a TV duel, setting a precedent for future presidential election debates.
