Less than five months before Americans cast their ballot for former President Donald Trump or incumbent President Joe Biden, the candidates took part in the first of two presidential debates.
CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderated Thursday’s audience-free spectacle, which was simulcast on all major news networks.
The first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle came four weeks after Trump, now a convicted felon, was found guilty on all 34 counts in a hush money trial tied to payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He will be sentenced on Thursday, July 11, at 10 am ET, four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis.
The felony conviction of a onetime POTUS (and presumptive GOP nominee) is unprecedented. Be that as it may, Trump currently holds a narrow lead over Biden in national polling data — 41.1% versus Biden’s 40.9%. (For comparison’s sake: Biden led Trump by seven percentage points — 50.2% versus Trump’s 43.2% — on the eve of the first presidential debate of the 2020 election cycle.)
Thursday’s debate was the first of two scheduled debates before the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Biden and Trump have agreed to meet again on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in an event that will air on ABC. David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News will moderate.
How do you think Trump and Biden fared in Debate No. 1? How about moderators Tapper and Bash? Weigh in via the following polls, then leave a comment below.
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Tagline from “Freddy vs Jason” movie
Whoever wins, we lose!
False equivalency. One is a direct threat to democracy & his goons that are equally motivated to remake America is something out of The Handmaid’s Tale. The other candidate is simply old. He may not be perfect, but at least the people in his administration can be trusted to preserve democracy.
How is actively allowing 3.7 million and rising undocumented immigrants into USA, aka legit stuffing the ballot boxes for future votes as “democracy” ?
Because the founders wanted open borders….
I’m just going to say this – it’s awfully rich to hear Trump going on about how we’re letting criminals into this country. Convicted felon says what?
Precisely!
Biden looked old, weak and feeble.
And Trump reveals himself to be a lying, bombastic, oppressive law-breaker.
He’s an adjudicated rapist and a felon; a twice-impeached failure who never won the popular vote.
He’s by far the worse of the two choices.
I’ll take old and honorable, weak but ethical, and feeble but universally fair to all, any day
He`s crimes are nothing against the real r(a)pist and gang members that are coming to US from Mexico to only do crimes. You should fear for the sake of your family if Biden gets selected. The same thing is happening in Europe as the world huggers wants to feed every person even if the country is doing bad. Crime rates are higher than ever due to immigrants and media stays silent.
Pretty sure Trump has a sexual assault decision against him in a US court or did you miss that?
False you are drinking the kool aid
First off, paranoid much? Second, even if your claims were true, how exactly can you expect the laws to be enforced by Trump, given he is also a criminal? If he can still run for and possibly be president despite his criminal record, criminals are going to look at that and think, “Well, if it’s okay for him…”. He has no leg to stand on when It comes to enforcing the law.
is English your first language?
Moron you cannot vote unless you’re a citizen.
Correction: you can not legally vote unless you are a citizen.
OK, show me where an illegal immigrant voted. Any case of it happening.
Jist the IQ of a TRumper
Says a Biden supporter! 😂
In PA the gov is allowing illegals to get drivers license. They can then in turn register to vote.
False equivalency.
Considering that you need to be a citizen of the United States to register to vote, and that the ID for undocumented immigrants is more for road safety, no you wouldn’t be able to use that ID to vote.
Tonight will go down in history as the day Gavin Newsome’s Presidential Campaign.
Pete Buttigieg, Eric Swallwell, Jamie Raskin, Jared Moskowitz…there are many fine, strong Americans who would serve the country well as President.
We don’t have to endure having a convicted criminal in the White House.
Vote Blue.
Do you know who else was a convicted criminal? Nelson Mandela!
Undocumented individuals can NOT vote. Period! Just as felons can’t. And everyone
is checked through the system. Only on rare occasions does someone go through
& then they’re found later & prosecuted. Just ask Crystal Mason. And yet, with ALL his criminal history, 34 convictions & counting ffs, Trump can legally run for president. Make it make sense!
Felons CAN vote.
As a matter of fact Maine, Vermont, and Washington, DC, allow all incarcerated residents to vote from prison.
Please, check your “facts” before posting.
This isn’t Facebook.
You know most of those people don’t stay, right?
You show and you have to prove your case.
You’ve certainly been drinking the MAGA kool-aid
If they’re undocumented, then they’re not registered to vote.
Ukraine will lose the war soon. They keep asking for more 100 billions USA taxpayer money that should help poor and homeless here..
Ukraine losing territory. World world 3 begins soon because of Biden started the war with Putin by provoking him by taking sides. Too many more wars around the world that is bad. Inflation is bad is hurting poor and seniors.
Eh Biden coulda stopped the overturn of Roe and Casey but chose not to. At least Congress mostly works against Trump’s worst nature (except refusal to codify DREAM), whereas they let stuff happen under Biden that is just an insult to freedoms and equality.
Exactly how could he have done that? Do you have any clue how our branches of government actually work or did you get your civics knowledge from faux news?
Well the exec branch has power to step into medical licensure even at the state level (Thanks to George Washington actually, going that far back, which also was the basis of the Direct Threat defense of the ADA that allowed the mandate of facemasks during COVID). All he has to do is do an EO to remove the medical license of any doctor that refuses to perform an abortion regardless of state law. Watch how fast the states remove their restrictions when their own politicians can’t even get treated for the flu.
Presidents can’t stop Supreme Courts from making decisions. It is literally not possible.
Right. It’s voters who can influence the Supreme Court.
And Mitch McConnell.
Tell that to SOBs neocon super-PAC who gifts a $400+k RV to that POS black (-robed) Pubic Hair On A Coke Can.
That is not how government works.
Splusm, I agree. Besides if something happened to Biden I trust his advisors and the people around him to do what is right for our country. Not a convicted FELON who will only have sycophants around him.
You do realize what you have described is, essentially, a cabal where unelected people make the decisions that an elected official is supposed to make. You think that is a good thing?
If something happens to Biden, Harris takes over as the elected VP. Elected officials make decisions based on input from their cabinet and advisors and what they feel is best for America. I would trust Harris to put into place people who have shown that they value democracy and the American people above making a personal profit and pandering to the Christian nationalists who want to make this a Christian (only their flavor of Christianity) country which their beliefs will no doubt not match yours. Our rights are in jeopardy if a Republican is president!
Well said and I agree
with you!
Biden looked old, weak and feeble.
Can they? His Administration is basically saying we must do the bidding of Israel and it is only Hamas and not also Bibi that is causing the war to continue (which is a lie). And this doddering fool currently holds the Nuclear codes? He isn’t just Old. They should be talking 25th Amendment
But having the nuclear codes in Trump’s hands is OK with you?
Amen Splusm. The people in the position of advising a president are as important, possibly more important, than the president himself. Has everyone forgotten the caliber of advisors Trump surrounded himself with? And who he was ignorant enough to trust?!
Are you saying that handmaid tale is America’s future and comparing it to the Roman Catholic Church? You must not like nuns then they help the poor. They are mostly virgins. You must not like Mother Teresa. She moved to India as missionary and worked among the poor helping them.
Freddy vs Jason was an
awesome movie!
Especially because Jason Vorhees won!!!!
eh, ‘alien v predator’..
Are you saying that handmaid tale is America’s future and comparing it to the Roman Catholic Church? You must not like nuns then they help the poor. They are mostly virgins. You must not like Mother Teresa. She moved to India as missionary and worked among the poor helping them.
Rather watch paint dry. These two old men need to retire. It’s the same old, same old crap. Homelessness in the US had increased 12%, food prices thru the roof. All we will hear is a repeat of the last 4 years, all bullcrap! Get some new blood in office and enforce term limits for everyone in office. I think most Americans are disillusioned, disappointed and disgusted with our government. I know I am.
People need to vote in primaries. They stand back and don’t vote for change and the players stay the same. It amazes me when republicans say now they have an issue voting for trump because he is a convicted felon. Trump didn’t change with the verdict he is the same person just now a jury labeled him a felon. People should be their own judge and jury and have not stood for lies and felonious behavior and gotten a different Republican candidate. Democrats should have put a different person in contention if they didn’t have confidence in Biden as a candidate. Now they are the choices and people need to make a choice. Just remember your voting for a cabinet not just a president. Who do you feel more comfortable with as a party and with their polices and behavior.
Most people aren’t able to vote in Primaries. Most of us are independent voters who don’t identify with either party and are simply left to choose between whichever bad choices the parties spit out in November.
Choosing NOT to affiliate with either party in a closed primary state is not the best choice. EVERY state allows one to change affiliation. Just choose to affiliate with the party who most needs your primary vote in the current election cycle, however you define that, and switch back later. It’s not like getting a tattoo or anything; it’s something you can change as needed and desired.
Parties in some states actually have rules and regulations against people constantly switching parties. Besides, who wants the headache of having to constantly switch parties just to vote in a primary? People tend to forget, you don’t actually have to vote for the candidates that are listed in the general election. You can write in a candidate.
Constantly switching? How many primaries a year does your state have? And there are ZERO states that make you declare an affiliation for life. If you are too lazy to take the few minutes it takes to declare, that’s on you. But you are choosing to hive up your voice, rather than anyone depriving you of that voice.But you seem to prefer throwing away a vote. Point to a SINGLE election in modern history where any write in has won an election. You are making a choice, and not a good one by choosing to skip something your country needs you to participate in. And rationalizing away your own apathy.
It’s about the principal. Why is that independent voters don’t get to have voice in regards to who we can vote for in November? We should have open primaries where all citizens can genuinely choose who they believe the best candidate is regardless of party.
I do not disagree, but reality is you can vote for whomever you want come November, regard;less of affiliation. But in most states, you MUST declare an affiliation to vote in a primary. Until they change the “game” and do away with parties altogether, we must play by the current rules, and it is up to you to decide which party needs your vote more in order to pick viable candidates. I’d rather have a choice of 2 good candidates, between who I have difficulty deciding, than continue to vote against someone. And I have a better chance of that happening by voting in a primary.
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Locally, most County elections are decided in the primary, and so I affiliate with the party who needs my vote to get decent candidates into office, which can change from year to year. And I am not the only one. If voting is a patriotic duty, playing the game in order to have a voice where it matters is an extension of that. NPAs/Independents do not have primaries, so they don’t need you to give up a vote to get them on the ballot.
Yes and this needs to be changed because we need more parties. Most of us do not totally agree with either side in the current system, but nobody else can get a foot in the door the way it’s set up now.
This is sad and pathetic. In order to win the debate with the hypothetical middle, Trump needs to sound sane, and Biden needs to sound alive. Both are failing.
Think of it this way: are the people behind Trump as insane as him? If so, why support Trump? As for Biden, at least you know the people in his administration are younger, thus alive if that’s your concern.
Huh? You’re voting for
Biden because he has young people around him?
No, because he has CAPABLE people around him.
Someone have the nursing home stand by.
The optics for Biden look horrific. He looks and sounds horrible.
And Donald Trump is…Donald Trump.
Biden still comes out on top.
Bahaha…you wish!
Did they really just argue over golf handicaps?!?
Yep. We’re watching the utter failure of our two political parties.
THIS was the point that I lost all patience. Way to show off how completely entitled and oblivious they both are. This was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen.
Bring on the Feats of Strength! Mandelbaum, Mandelbaum!
Stories have come out about how often Trump cheats when he plays golf, so I wouldn’t count on him to tell the truth about his golf handicap. His other handicap is that he wouldn’t know the truth if it gobsmacked him in the face.
Tried watching on MAX on desktop and app but kept getting an error message. Hope you get all the egg of your face in one shot, Mr. Zaslav.
“You’re a whiner. Something snapped in you when you lost last time.” Thank you, Biden. Also, can someone explain to Trump what the definition of an abortion is, ’cause I don’t think he knows. What on earth was with that “after they’re born” nonsense?
.
(To say nothing of the fact that people’s ability to control their reproductive rights should NOT be a state by state issue – people’s civil rights should not be something states get to pick and choose whether or not they want to allow. Period. End of story.)
.
As for the age thing, people, you all knew back in 2020 that BIden was not young when he ran the first time around. His age should not be a shock to anyone here. And besdies that, if something were to happen to Biden, he would have competent people to take over. If Trump were in charge and something happened to him, I’d be terrified as to who would follow him.
.
But here’s the bottom line, and, quite frankly, the only thing people need to remember going forward: Trump is a convicted felon who tried to destroy our democracy on Jaunary 6th by refusing to accept the results of a presidential election.
.
Biden, on the other hand, is not a convicted felon, and I will not have to worry about his response if, god forbid, he loses the election later this year. Nor will I have to worry about his supporters storming the Captiol and putting people’s lives at risk (let’s not forget how Trump didn’t seem to care that his supporters had a noose ready for the vice president). So basically, do voters care about our democracy or don’t they? Do they want to vote for a criminal or don’t they?
Very well said 👏👏!
Excellent analysis…very well stated! There was some analysis that Biden had a cold…he should have SAID SO!! Everybody gets colds!!! “I decided to proceed because this is one of our most important elections ever!!” And, where were the mods??? Trump rarely answered the question, instead backtracking to more lies!! Was holding the candidates accountable to the question/topic forbidden?? If so, total failure on CNN’s part!! IMO!!!
The mods asked Trump to answer the question asked when he went off on a tangent but he refused. After asking twice, they just moved on, as they should have or we would have waited the entire 90 minutes for an answer that never came.
Agreed. Reproductive rights should not be a state’s choice, but a standardized freedom-of-choice throughout the country. Biden’s voice did sound weak, tonight and he sounded tired. He is old. He does talk like an old guy. He doesn’t walk as fast as he once did. He is still a good president. He still did solid on policy. In his 81 years, he has never been convicted of a felony, been found liable for sexual assault, or tried to overthrow the constitution of the United States. Biden isn’t a criminal. At the end of the day, that matters. Biden will have my vote.
I think Trump won!
Trump told so many lies and dodged so many questions, it made my head spin. However, Biden could’ve stood there and promised everyone a check for 50K his first day in office, and I don’t think that’ll overcome his performance. He didn’t meet the moment.
If I took a drink every time Trump mentioned the border, I’d be dead from alcohol poisoning.
Well, that is a very critical issue for our country. It needs to seriously be addressed.
There was a bipartisan bill that failed in the House because Trump gave a hit order on the bill. The blame falls on Trump.
Exactly!
Thank you for bringing
that fact up!!!
This happens every election. Republicans try to scare Americans about open borders and “caravans,” then never mention it again once the election is over.
They’re both awful and belong in nursing homes. Trump didn’t do a good job in this debate and talked a whole lot of bs, but anyone who thinks Biden “won” is delusional. He was embarrassingly bad. I’m legitimately embarrassed that these two are our options.
illegal border crosssing are killing the United States. If all of these folks are not sent back to south america and the likes. The US is lost. Not a dam one of these pople shed their blood in Viet Nam for this Country as I and many of my brothers did. If this was 1968 or 1969 we would have killed anyone crossing the border without proper docks and money.
last time i check 40% down.
seems are money getting wortless and people are looking else where to work. due to are massive debt we have
A fine example right here of the failing American school system. Everything in this country is going up in blazes! Both of these relics need to step away to allow fresh and sane blood into government.
Could the “failing American school system” be partly due to the republican controlled states not properly funding the schools? At least that is what is happening in my state.
The CNN moderators remained professional and almost unbiased.
They did a good job.
Man. This was painful. On a night when President Biden needed to bring his A game… he didn’t. While he brought some fire later in the debate, he was just off.
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As for Trump, despite him not answering a single question and going around in circles, he came out more forcefully.
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At this point, I fear of what will happen on Election Day.
B+
One area needing improvement: too many times trump avoided the question & was allowed address something else. Not all time, but too many times.
Tonight will go down in history as the day Gavin Newsome’s Presidential Campaign.
All I can say is the American people deserve better!! But can you blame people for not wanting to get into politics?! Not really. It’s sad.
President Biden was sick with a cold and should have postponed the debate. However, answered the questions
The former president prevaricated. He did not answer questions, just attacked President Biden. He lied more than anything. How anyone could say he won the debate is mindboggling.
A cold, seriously?! The leader of the free world needs to be able to deal with difficult circumstances when he has a cold. Just an excuse by the democrats.
Here are my grades:
Biden – C
Trump – F
Tapper – D
Bash – F
Reason, Biden didn’t do well at all and Trump lied with every breath.
Tapper didn’t call mistakes that Biden made and lies that Trump made and barely followed up. Bash did the same with not calling out Biden’s mistakes and Trump’s lies and didn’t follow up anything.
You’re funny. With Trump, it’s lies. With Biden, it’s “mistakes”.
It is time for Democrats to be democratic. Dean Phillips was right. This is not Iran, and we are supposed to have competitive elections, not coronations. Biden has dementia and it will only get worse. Jill is enabling this travesty. It is pitiful.
Our country is in trouble. Biden is mentally unfit. I can not believe the Democrats covered his mental awareness and promoted him to win their nomination.
Unbelievably, Biden made Trump look like a viable alternative. It was hard to watch. The press will have to report Biden’s mental awareness or all of Trump’s accusations will look true.
THIS ELECTION IS NOT ABOUT BIDEN VS TRUMP. IT’S ABOUT MAGA VS DEMOCRACY.
Discourse on the election should be framed that way.
My perspective: I’m not American so I’m not politically invested, but as people I consider Trump to be abhorrent while I’m mostly neutral on Biden.
I’d say Trump won mostly just because I could hear what he was saying, Biden was often inaudible because of how softly he speaks. A lot of what Trump actually said was meandering nonsense, but I think that the way they presented and how clearly they spoke is going to stick in peoples memories far longer than the content of their speech as neither of them effectively communicated any real message.
All orange Trump did
was lie and spew BS…
Biden told the truth, tried to relate facts, but sounded tired and searched for words at times. Trump strung lies together every time he opened his mouth and was often incoherent, but he did it with confidence and energy. Trump won on style points even though he often made no sense.