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Biden and Trump Trade Blows in CNN Debate: Key Moments and Takeaways

President Joe Biden listens intently as former President Donald Trump speaks during the CNN-hosted presidential debate on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo)

In Summary:

1) The CNN debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump was heated, focusing intensely on key issues like the economy and foreign policy, which underscored their very different views on where America should go next.

2) Biden struggled at times to express himself clearly, while Trump doubled down on his firm positions regarding immigration and economic policies, making it clear the upcoming election will be fiercely contested.

In a highly anticipated CNN debate on Thursday night, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off, marking the first time a sitting president and a former president have ever debated.

The event, moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, covered a wide array of topics including abortion, immigration, foreign policy, and the economy, and was characterized by sharp exchanges and personal attacks.

Biden’s Age and Performance

Biden, 81, struggled with his voice and clarity, often appearing hoarse and at times unintelligible. This raised questions about his age and capacity to continue leading.

At one point, after Biden trailed off while defending his record on border security, Trump remarked, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said, either.”

Biden’s performance is likely to fuel further concerns within his party about his fitness for a second term.

Trump’s Restraint and Strategy

Trump, 78, showed uncharacteristic restraint, particularly regarding Biden’s age-related struggles. Instead of mocking Biden’s difficulties, Trump adopted a more traditional political approach.

For instance, when Biden stumbled over a question about the national debt, Trump refrained from direct taunting, merely stating, “Well, he’s right: he did beat Medicare. He beat it to death,” before shifting the focus to Biden’s immigration policies.

Key Issues and Exchanges

Abortion: Trump made news by supporting the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the legality of the abortion pill mifepristone.

“The Supreme Court just approved the abortion pill, and I agree with their decision,” Trump said.

Biden, on the other hand, struggled to clearly articulate his stance, which should have been a strong point given the emphasis his campaign has placed on restoring access to abortion.

Immigration: Biden emphasized the recent drop in illegal border crossings, but Trump blamed him for increased crime rates, stating, “We’re living right now in a rat’s nest. They’re killing our people.” Biden retorted, “Every single thing he said was a lie.”

January 6: The debate highlighted stark differences in their responses to the January 6 Capitol attack.

Biden accused Trump of inciting the attack, saying, “Trump encouraged those folks to go to Capitol Hill,” and criticized him for inaction during the siege.

Trump avoided addressing the specifics, instead focusing on the state of the country at that time.

Foreign Policy: Trump blamed Biden for the world’s current geopolitical issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.

He argued that his administration had left the world in a better state, while Biden insisted that Trump’s actions had emboldened autocrats like Putin.

Economy and Inflation: Both candidates blamed the pandemic for economic challenges. Biden criticized Trump’s handling of COVID-19, while Trump claimed his administration had been on the verge of economic recovery before the pandemic struck.

“We put things back together,” Biden said, contrasting with Trump’s assertion that the economy had been thriving under his leadership until the virus hit.

Personal Attacks and Memorable Moments

The debate turned bitterly personal at several points. Biden highlighted Trump’s criminal convictions, while Trump responded by bringing up Biden’s son, Hunter.

A particularly heated moment came when Biden accused Trump of having an affair with Stormy Daniels, to which Trump retorted, “I didn’t have sex with a porn star.”

Biden’s strategy included deploying one-liners to undermine Trump. He called Trump a “whiner” and a “loser,” referencing Trump’s 2020 election loss.

He also used the debate to invoke Trump’s alleged comments about American war dead being “suckers” and “losers,” linking it to his son Beau’s military service.

The debate showcased the deep divisions between the two leaders and offered a preview of the intense battle ahead as they prepare for their second and final debate on September 10.