Biden vs. Trump: A Tumultuous First Debate
The first TV debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump for the 2024 US election has thrown the Democratic Party into disarray. Held in Atlanta, Georgia, the debate was meant to bolster Biden's position but instead highlighted his vulnerabilities. The 81-year-old Democrat stumbled over his words, spoke indistinctly, and appeared frail, leading to a wave of panic among Democrats. According to a CNN poll, 67% of viewers saw Trump as the winner, while only 33% supported Biden. This weak performance has led to calls for Biden's resignation and discussions about a potential successor.
Democrats in Crisis: Calls for Biden's Resignation
Numerous Democratic politicians and activists are now questioning Joe Biden's suitability as a presidential candidate for the 2024 election. Progressive representatives are openly calling for Biden to step down in favor of a younger candidate. The Washington Post reported that Biden's campaign team internally acknowledged the damaging impact of his debate performance. Democratic strategist Jay Surdukowski stated, 'Biden is finished.' The New York Times revealed that desperate messages were sent within Democratic ranks minutes after the debate, discussing whether it was too late to persuade Biden to resign. Potential successors include Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
The Debate's Key Issues and Implications
During the debate, Biden and Trump tackled major issues like the situation in Ukraine, the rising cost of living, and the migration crisis. Trump blamed Biden's 'indecisive actions' for the Ukrainian crisis and criticized the administration's financial support for Kyiv. Biden countered by highlighting the international coalition he had built to support Ukraine. The debate also saw Trump accusing Biden of turning the US into a 'third world country,' a claim Biden vehemently denied. The overall poor performance by Biden has led to a significant decline in his approval ratings, increasing Trump's lead in key states. Experts believe that replacing Biden at this stage would be challenging and could lead to a severe internal party crisis for the Democrats.
- The debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump took place in the CNN studio in Atlanta, Georgia, without an audience for the first time since 1960. The debate lasted about an hour and a half, covering major US domestic and foreign policy issues.
- Trump criticized Biden's handling of the Ukrainian crisis, attributing it to Biden's indecisive actions. Biden defended his administration by emphasizing the international coalition supporting Ukraine.
- The debate also addressed pressing US issues such as the rising cost of living, the migration crisis, and the fentanyl drug epidemic. Trump used the opportunity to highlight his past actions as president and blame Biden for the current state of affairs.
- According to media reports, Biden's frail appearance and incoherent speech during the debate have led to internal discussions within the Democratic Party about finding a potential successor. However, replacing Biden at this stage could lead to a significant internal party crisis.
