Biden falls flat against Trump in first 2024 US presidential debate

In the first debate of the 2024 US presidential race, President Joe Biden and Donald Trump sought to break a deadlock. Biden opened Thursday's gathering, but he seemed to fumble for words at times.

[{"selector":"#anim-1a4eb005-3e7f-46f1-85aa-0f8a9e236641","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6caa23e9-ae3c-444c-8a37-f4f233ded24b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20b217d4-2a03-4e39-8e24-fd434de3ceb0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.999999999999993%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The two candidates debated for the first time since October 2020 at CNN's Atlanta studios on Thursday night.

[{"selector":"#anim-aa864a2f-27bb-4ac7-92aa-8c819837fd35 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(22.648645660217223%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-585f538c-b974-4e65-a410-747798b32365","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d12fe71-4eff-4bba-b637-d064d5303717","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-587b41d8-ac24-4877-adde-5f2246dcd945","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f04b90e5-2f32-4756-a275-7db11f8fd59f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-442ce329-8b85-473d-888a-b7a4aa4c479d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46465fb2-aa10-4e7a-82fe-43013108fd7e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Since neither had participated in a public discussion in years, many political analysts questioned if they would be rusty.

[{"selector":"#anim-3db1297c-1f91-44df-a6f9-cc43f628d516 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.948605294492886%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a2ed0cf-23f6-4e74-a761-93692f9c2e1b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45fb4038-79ba-4843-b779-54f3e880e7ac","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e090571b-e3b6-43b1-9b5e-cfb4e5ec1a18","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-376a98a6-9dd2-4760-9382-6c26c54e679d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Biden spent the week before the debate at Camp David in Maryland, where advisers helped him practice simulated debates. Trump maintained his rally itinerary.

[{"selector":"#anim-e0df1826-2206-4b7a-a2d5-7cc070f44c21 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(14.383331508350565%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9932cb79-ddfb-4ce7-9119-310053d3d78f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1851cb68-306e-44dc-a9ee-3c2cc2bd53f6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37dee0aa-9942-4ef8-9a34-fdac7d9dc350","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c339fe4-5b5c-497b-ae9e-41f5ddab3da2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The night was significant for Trump and Biden as they sought to establish different US ideals. Trump suggested Biden's presidency sank the nation. Biden defended the US's global standing.

[{"selector":"#anim-a45111d9-3527-49d7-b5bf-f61dc84d862c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-19.869756929061616%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c070e62a-79fd-452d-a42c-8bfd89054ebe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c22d35d7-fa3c-441b-a719-6f2ab2d6c2ff","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff4e3827-1976-4b9e-831e-d549d5c22738","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0b083ce-a046-4324-bd17-a0643ebed0ec","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0a7cb2f-281b-4684-a98f-1fc05937b260","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33e5a5a3-9647-41bc-8ff7-42ccb1c6fa87","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

I've never heard a president speak like this. The world envies us. “Name me a major country that wouldn’t trade places with the United States of America,” Biden remarked.

[{"selector":"#anim-a28b0cc6-c67d-440a-abb1-895010bee24e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-16.839917116886355%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38e4ddb1-41a4-4ad5-8568-65348a79e6b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68c0f8f4-44ed-4ef2-8e27-bcf368193f27","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-057c3043-4392-4e38-97b1-07b6d62bc1cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0be02c93-de23-4195-89ba-2cfa9fe1b369","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Biden and Trump wanted to postpone the first presidential debate to June to avoid early voting, which begins in some states in September.

[{"selector":"#anim-947c7a86-b4ce-428c-bdb1-253ae6c6e3ae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(13.048795595204638%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64dd71f7-aad0-4453-ba86-d508421e9ed0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d2a8e3a-bd9a-4615-838d-ed672034854e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1419fd2-8e7a-49ce-9618-ef0ada05b461","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5d6c85b-286b-4cb6-8ea6-c325b114ab7f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-031a0873-5e3e-4beb-9d3f-ee615a175500","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eab270eb-2086-497e-839f-8886a7dbdd7d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

That set the 2024 inaugural discussion before of even the main party conventions, where the Democratic and Republican nominees are announced.

[{"selector":"#anim-d738483b-6ef6-4657-9e81-57580752e712 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-17.052403334642428%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6d872c2-82a2-4d2c-bf07-8dbcbdc16be7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24f4836e-498f-46e1-9d05-0e9433c4547d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb2575ed-1f77-425e-9c2a-cb07fe21ae86","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4adb3f4b-5ea1-481c-9c8f-4ebef541630f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

At times, the debate descended into candidates accusing one other of lying or whining.

[{"selector":"#anim-4de96137-41a4-43d4-99a5-da4bfebe05c3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.999999999999993%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b77e641-47a8-4fa0-96a1-9e76f64c3fd5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23dc23f9-61fd-444f-853e-7ed439959fae","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3def6359-8071-46e4-ba6a-f60509a559f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcb5f709-fdfc-42fb-8b38-2d40ada43288","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4e84207-d587-4886-8b24-052dd70e5174","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f60c6652-9935-4492-96b3-9b8fb592e48b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

They even compared golf games, with Biden asking Trump to carry his own bag and Trump ridiculing Biden's swing.

[{"selector":"#anim-268eb48f-6d5c-4666-bb54-8405e8a6993e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(24.975631053852798%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08b54223-12c7-4385-ab13-9af113023aa1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c10fed00-43f5-4738-abba-425b7dd45a13","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13e00554-6c1d-46c3-8516-e8f5fda4920a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7aa91ee6-54a5-44a0-967a-821383ff7db7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Democrats rallied around Trump in the hours after the debate, echoing claims that Trump threatens US democracy.

[{"selector":"#anim-f9390620-8031-4eae-915a-60932e1ac7db [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.940381054626478%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45c3bcb6-791b-42cb-8b7d-46c87c13b13f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a34c246-d339-4664-9dd1-db7fb69eab31","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf884759-c205-4a7e-8dd4-d746dd4161fb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-281d1d55-f0ca-4972-b7a2-2d7349f59b29","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21ba4f49-4d0a-4718-918b-fe464db0f930","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d79a073d-c3be-44fd-94c5-d0bc5e4f114d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

“One performance doesn't turn you back. Questioning Biden's resignation, California Governor Gavin Newsom questioned, "What kind of party does that?" “This president delivered. We must deliver for him now.”

[{"selector":"#anim-dce2581d-0dfe-43b4-90a7-0a38e10a51e7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-22.648645660217227%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb1cc87f-987e-4a01-b97d-a3fbfffcf8d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d85025b8-7e18-4ff2-9c70-e0ffbbe8104e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4203675f-2159-4245-a198-7e8877eee853","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5bf0a55f-5771-4c2b-8cc4-0e5d491c0b43","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -435.19876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Also See:

[{"selector":"#anim-51f17f62-981c-4fc3-9a58-ebebb4fe1014","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4774489-f8ee-49e8-a29d-e7efcff6b22c","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -225.56198%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -63.428028776000005%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -21.563725288%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -8.097675082%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -3.518766888%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":3000,"fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f775befa-0470-43c9-af41-be7f7b8cac77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more