President Joe Biden, sometimes hesitant and confused, looked very bad against a Donald Trump in control last night, during the first debate of the American election… which greatly worries the Democratic camp.
• Read also: Right to abortion: “It’s terrible what you did” – Joe Biden
• Read also: Biden-Trump debate: “It’s the worst debate I’ve ever seen,” says Jean-Marc Léger
• Read also: First presidential debate: Donald Trump attacks, Joe Biden more hesitant
Several media outlets reported the concern of the Democratic camp after the shaky performance of the 81-year-old outgoing president. THE New York Times reported that some elected officials were openly wondering whether they should find a replacement to take on the 78-year-old Republican.
“If Joe Biden’s main problem is the perception that he is too old and diminished, the beginning of this debate showed us him struggling to walk to his microphone, barely audible and slightly hesitant in his answers,” observed Luc Laliberté, political analyst.
The expert added that “Trump seems stronger, more confident and energetic, even if he fiddles or invents the numbers” during this duel.
“In a televised debate, the image is more important than the content for many voters,” said Mr. Laliberté.
Rain of insults
The face-off organized by the American channel CNN began calmly, but the two adversaries quickly showed their contempt for each other.
Rising prices are the first subject the two men were questioned about during this debate.
“Joe Biden has not done a good job. He’s done a bad job. And inflation is killing our country. It’s killing us,” the billionaire said.
Biden then criticized Trump for his “terrible” action against abortion rights in the United States.
“You’re the idiot, you’re the loser,” the Democrat replied in response to Trump who had just commented on the fate of American soldiers who died in the war.
Less chaotic
Donald Trump remained openly aggressive and spouted numerous false information, without however getting angry with the moderators as he did in 2020, in a chaotic duel.
Getty Images via AFP
Joe Biden, whose great challenge is to reassure Americans of his mental acuity and vitality, has seemed hesitant on numerous occasions.
He even stumbled over words several times. Trump even challenged the Democrat to take a “cognitive test.”
AFP
President Joe Biden also called his Republican opponent a “criminal,” in reference to his recent criminal conviction in New York.
A depraved
“The only person who is a repeat offender is the man I’m watching on stage right now. […] You have the moral sense of a depraved person,” the Democratic leader told his predecessor after 44 minutes.
Getty Images via AFP
The Republican ultimately refused to commit to recognizing the result of the US presidential election in November.
AFP
The two men, now neck and neck in the polls, will face off again in September, two months before the election.
– With AFP
