Biden, Trump face off in US presidential debate

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden and his Republican rival Donald Trump faced off in the first presidential debate that offered voters a rare side-by-side look at the two oldest candidates ever to seek the US presidency.

The two rivals did not shake hands as they took their positions at podiums just feet apart in a studio with no live audience. The leaders battled over economic issues, foreign policy and international crises, the country’s immigration crisis, and the state of American democracy.

The debate, which was conducted four months ahead of the US Presidential polls, was hosted by the CNN and broadcasted by all networks across US. 

The 90-minute affair was defined by rambling answers by the current president, and lies and misstatements by his predecessor.

The candidates fielded questions about the economy, abortion, the Middle East, the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Trump’s recent criminal conviction and more. CNN hosted the debate in Atlanta, with anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash serving as moderators. Each candidate’s microphone was muted when it was not his turn to speak, and there was no studio audience in attendance.

Mr. Biden stumbled through many of his answers early on in the debate and sounded like he was losing his voice, apparently because he has been battling a cold. While he improved over the course of the night, he often lost his train of thought and struggled to communicate his positions on a variety of issues. His performance alarmed many of his fellow Democrats. “I’ve never seen a freakout like this,” one House Democrat told CBS News, referring to reaction among party lawmakers.

Trump sounded energetic in comparison, even as he mischaracterized his record and many of the president’s positions throughout the night. He lied repeatedly about a variety of topics, including abortion, his recent criminal conviction and Mr. Biden’s immigration record.

Trump claimed, falsely, that the only jobs Mr. Biden created were for “illegal immigrants,” and “bounce back” jobs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump also defended his proposal to impose a 10% tariff on all foreign products entering the U.S. 

“It’s not going to drive them higher,” Trump insisted, contradicting the view of many economic experts. “It’s just going to cost countries that have been ripping us off for years like China and many others, in all fairness to China.”

IN EXCHANGE OVER CONVICTION, TRUMP CLAIMS HE “DIDN’T HAVE SEX WITH A PORN STAR”

The conversation turned to Trump’s conviction last month in his New York “hush money” criminal trial. Mr. Biden took aim at the former president during questioning about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, saying “the only person on this stage who’s a convicted felon is the man I’m looking at right now.”

But Trump quickly worked to deflect, pointing to Mr. Biden’s son, Hunter, before suggesting that the president himself could become a convicted felon, as well. 

“When he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon,” Trump said. “He could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office … Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things he’s done.”

Trump is currently awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on his contention that presidents have “absolute immunity” for acts committed while in office.

Mr. Biden pointed to Trump’s numerous charges across four criminal cases, while asking about how much the former president owes in civil cases.

“You have the morals of an alley cat,” Mr. Biden said. 

Trump responded directly, saying, “I didn’t have sex with a porn star.”

TRUMP AND BIDEN SPAR OVER WHO IS A WORSE PRESIDENT

During one exchange, the two candidates abandoned responses to more substantive questions to descend into criticism of the other for being the worst president the country has ever seen. 

“He’s the worst president,” Trump said, during a response to a question about making child care more affordable. “He’s the worst president in the history of our country.” 

Mr. Biden staunchly rejected the claim, throwing it back on Trump and claiming that according to experts, Trump is the worst president in American history. 

“They said he was the worst in all presidential history,” Mr. Biden said, citing a recent survey of political scientists. “That’s a fact.”

Given another opportunity to respond to the question on childcare, Trump pledged that “if I’m given another four years, I’ll be the best.”

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