Between lies and attacks on Biden’s old age, Trump has not committed to recognizing the result of the next election.
Donald Trump confidently making a series of false statements, Joe Biden offensive in substance but very confused in form: the two candidates for the American presidency fought over inflation, immigration and Ukraine during their first debate organised by CNN this Thursday.
Invective upon invective
«Inflation is killing our country“, the 78-year-old former Republican president immediately said, extremely at ease, taking up an argument that he knows carries with Americansand assuring that his rival was doing a “bad job”, despite robust growth and healthy employment.
The 81-year-old Democrat, whose voice is often hoarse in front of the cameras of CNN, the channel organizing the debate, attacked a subject that he knows is delicate for the billionaire, reproaching him his “terrible” action against the right to abortion. He also accused Donald Trump of “lying” by asserting that illegal immigration was causing crime to soar, before going on to more personal ground. The Democrat has recalled that his opponent was a “reconvict”after being found guilty in a case of hidden payments to a former porn actress, and judged that he had the “moral sense of a depraved person”, calling him on several occasions a “whiny”. “I did nothing wrong,” the former president replied.charged in several other cases, claiming that the justice system was “rigged.”
The Republicanwho never conceded defeat in 2020, did not commit to unconditionally recognizing the verdict of the ballot boxes in November, assuring that he would accept it if the election was “fair and just.”
International politics boiled down to a matter of personality
Donald Trumpwithout going as far as the insults with which he peppers his campaign speeches, told him that his rival was “not cut out” to be president, and presenting him as a weak leader. “He has become like a Palestinian, but they don’t like him because he is a very bad Palestinian. A weak (Palestinian), launched the Republican, in reference to Joe Biden’s policy in the face of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The war in Ukraine would never have happened if the United States had a “leader,” he also assured.. Donald Trump challenged Joe Biden to a “cognitive test”, boasting that he himself had taken two and “shone”, before boasting about his golfing skills while his rival smirked.
A tight frame
The former real estate developer has made a series of false statements and exaggerations, without intervention from the two CNN journalists hosting the evening. The latter, in addition to asking questions, essentially ensured that everyone’s speaking time was respected, cutting the microphone as soon as it was overwhich prevented untimely interruptions.
The two menwho frankly hate each other, had not shaken hands arriving on the set of the CNN channel, in Atlanta (Georgia, southeast). According to a reporter briefly admitted to the set, they did not not exchanged a glance during the first commercial break.
Seduce independent voters
Debateunless there is a surprise, should not cause much movementin a country where political polarization is extreme. But the stakes are no less enormous: if one of the two candidates manages to seduce a few independent votersthis could be enough to give him the advantage in November, as the vote promises to be close.
For this, Joe Biden must in particular reassure about his vitality and his health, and in this regard, his performance on Thursday is likely to be seen as a missed opportunity, even if he gained in ease over the course of the debate. “I don’t understand anything he’s saying, isn’t that sad?” said Hazel Reitz, 55, attending a viewing of the debate organized by the Republican Party in San Francisco. She will nonetheless vote for the Democrat in November.
