Former President Donald Trump and incumbent Joe Biden put on the boxing gloves again Thursday night during a first presidential debate held four months before the US election. A crucial moment, meant to bring Americans into the campaign, during which Joe Biden may have lacked confidence, compared to his energetic State of the Union address in March. Four years after a first round remained in the annals as it was so chaotic, the exchanges were just as scathing this year despite the conditions of the debate, sanitized by the cut microphones and the absence of an audience.
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Joe Biden’s candidacy in question
If some voices were already wondering about the state of health of Joe Biden, the debate will have confirmed their fears. The two contenders are only three years apart, but the performance of Joe Biden, who, at 81, is already the oldest president in the history of the United States, has raised questions .
If he did not make a misstep, it did not take more than ten minutes for the Democratic president to get lost in his sentences, muttering sometimes unintelligible words with a hoarse voice – Joe Biden having a cold, according to his camp . What’s more during a crucial moment on abortion, a strong theme for Democrats. Donald Trump took advantage of these moments of confusion to blow on the embers: “I really don’t know what he said at the end. I don’t think he knew what he said either.”he said, questioning his competitor’s mental acuity to run for a second term.
Not escaping the question of his age, Joe Biden stressed that his rival was only three years younger than him and that he was “much less competent” than him. For his part, Donald Trump argued “two cognitive tests passed”while boasting about his golf prowess. “You have to be very intelligent and be able to hit the ball very far. He can’t hit a ball 50 yards (45 meters)”he tackled.
Democrats want him out of the race
The debate had barely ended when the Republican team’s press release proclaimed “victory”, denouncing the“incompetence” Joe Biden.
US Vice President Kamala Harris has admitted that Joe Bien has been “slow to start” but that he had “finished strong”. Kate Bedingfield, former White House communications director during his first years in office, called Joe Biden’s performance “disappointing”. ” It’s a disaster “was alarmed by a Democratic legislator to CNN . ” We’re screwed “whispered again a Democrat, who worked for his campaign.
Within the Democratic camp, the question now even arises of replacing Joe Biden. According to David Axelrod, senior White House official and former Barack Obama strategist, “There will be discussions about whether he should continue.”. According to CNNsenior Democratic officials are even considering going to the White House to publicly ask Joe Biden to withdraw from the race.
Asked about these fears expressed by some Democrats, President Biden dismissed the idea of withdrawing from the race, assuring “to have done well” and retorting that he was “difficult to argue with a liar”.
Fears also about the future of democracy
Donald Trump has for his part aroused another form of concern, on the future of American democracy. In the event of victory first. Revengeful, Donald Trump has again threatened Joe Biden with “retaliation” after attacking the justice system that notably convicted him in criminal court – a first for a former president. He again accused Joe Biden of having led a witch hunt against him, a recurring lie in the Republican campaign. “As soon as he leaves office, Joe could become a habitual criminal with all the things he has done”threatened Donald Trump after Joe Biden called him a “criminal” and already “repeat offender” . Donald Trump has indicated that he intends to appoint a “special prosecutor” to prosecute Biden, if he arrives at the White House.
Joe Biden, for his part, warned of the threat posed by Donald Trump to American institutions: “This guy has no sense of what American democracy is.” He criticized the conservative for having “encouraged the Capitol riots” or even to stir up hatred. “You have the moral sense of a depraved person.”he told her.
Despite his attempts to appear presidential – even calling on Joe Biden “don’t act like a child” during a skirmish – Donald Trump nonetheless multiplied the invectives and lies, notably on the conspiracy theory of a stolen election in 2020.
Asked whether he would respect the results of the November election in the event of defeat, Donald Trump imposed conditions: “If it’s a fair, legal election, a good election, absolutely.”he replied, not without reviving the memory of the assault on the capitol while America is more fractured than ever.
