In a heated presidential debate that could shape the course of the 2024 election, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump sparred over a range of issues, including the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, domestic policy, and their respective fitness for office. The debate, held in Atlanta and moderated by CNN's Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, marked the first face-off between the two candidates this election cycle.
As reported by the Times of Israel, Biden, 81, delivered a performance that left many Democrats concerned. The President appeared hesitant at times, speaking hoarsely and occasionally losing his train of thought. This shaky showing is likely to intensify existing voter apprehensions about his age and ability to serve another four-year term.
Trump, 78, spoke more robustly but often in rambling sentences. He reiterated false claims about the 2020 election and the various legal challenges he faces. The former president's forceful delivery stood in contrast to Biden's more halting responses.
The debate touched on several key foreign policy issues, particularly the Israel-Hamas conflict. Biden defended his administration's approach, claiming widespread support for his three-stage plan to end the war. Trump, however, accused Biden of not allowing Israel to "finish the job" against Hamas, controversially referring to the President as "a bad Palestinian."
On domestic issues, the candidates clashed over abortion rights, immigration, and their respective economic records. The debate also revisited the 2017 neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia, with Biden criticizing Trump's response to the event and Trump dismissing Biden's account as debunked.
The performance of both candidates is likely to fuel ongoing discussions about age and fitness for office. Biden's stumbles may deepen concerns within the Democratic Party, with one unnamed top donor describing the President's performance as "disqualifying."
With national polls showing a tight race and Biden trailing in several battleground states, the Biden team will likely need to address these age-related concerns head-on to reassure both party loyalists and undecided voters.
The upcoming second and final debate in September will offer another critical opportunity for Biden to counter these perceptions. Until then, the question of whether the President's age is becoming a liability is likely to remain at the forefront of political discourse.