President Joe Biden and Donald Trump faced off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election.
The testy showdown was marked by personal attacks and a stumbling performance from Biden, who struggled with a hoarse voice and occasional verbal blanks
Democrats have expressed concern over the president’s performance – with reports suggesting Biden’s early answers triggered panic among some party strategists who hoped he would rebuff questions over his age.
Trump repeatedly attacked Biden on the economy and his foreign policy record, while Biden took aim at his rival’s criminal conviction and alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election
This is the second time Biden, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, will challenge each other for the White House after Trump lost in 2020.
After the debate, Biden stopped by a nearby hotel where supporters were gathered for a watch party.
He gave brief remarks, repeating a quote from an old John Wayne western movie in which he referred to “a lying, dog-faced pony soldier” while criticising Trump for lying during the debate.
Though Biden appeared halting during his debate performance, he seemed more upbeat at the after party.
“They’re going to be fact-checking all the things he said. I can’t think of one thing he said that was true,” he said of Trump.
“Look, we’re going to beat this guy, we need to beat this. I need you, in order to beat him. You’re the people I’m running for,” he said.
