Tense debate between a confident Trump and a very confused Biden

Donald Trump chaining together false assertions with aplomb, Joe Biden offensive on the merits but very confused about the truth. on the form: the two candidates à the American presidential election has scrapped on inflation, immigration or Ukraine during their first debate on Thursday.

“Inflation is killing our country”, immediately affirmed the 78-year-old former Republican president, extremely at ease, taking up an argument that he knows is popular with Americans, and 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, accusing him of his “terrible” action against the right to freedom. 'abortion.

He also accused Donald Trump of “lying” by asserting that illegal immigration was causing crime to soar, before moving on to more personal ground.

< IMG Alt = "AFP" src = "https://img-4.linternaute.com/wgf5q6q4wb5gb-65kpt8zdy97r8=/600x/smart/86b9e101212c47a8f4064f3863b308/ccmcms- PG " />US President Joe Biden during the presidential debate against Donald Trump at CNN premises in Atlanta, Georgia, June 27, 2024 © AFP – ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS

The Democrat recalled that his opponent was a “convict”, 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”, repeatedly calling him a “whiny”.

“I did nothing wrong”, replied the former president , charged in several other cases, claiming that the justice system was “rigged”.

The Republican, who never conceded defeat in 2020, did not commit to unconditionally recognizing the verdict of the polls in November, assuring that he would accept it if the election was “fair and equitable”.

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Donald Trump, without going as far as the insults with which he peppers his campaign speeches, affirmed that his rival was “not cut out” to be president, and the presenting himself as a weak leader.

“He has become like a Palestinian, but they don't like him because he is a very bad Palestinian. A (Palestinian) weak”, 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 taken place if the United States had a “leader”, he also assured.

– Polarization –

Donald Trump challenged Joe Biden to take a “cognitive test,” boasting that he himself had taken two and “shone,” before boasting about his golfing skills while his rival sported a mocking smile.

The former real estate developer made a series of false claims and exaggerations, without any 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 off the microphone as soon as it was up, which prevented untimely interruptions.

The two men, who frankly detest each other, did not shake hands when they arrived on the CNN set in Atlanta (Georgia, southeast). According to a reporter briefly admitted to the set, they did not exchange a glance during the first commercial break.

Former US President Donald Trump during the presidential debate against Joe Biden at CNN's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024 © AFP – ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS

The debate, barring any surprises, is unlikely to shake things up much in a country where political polarization is extreme.

But The stakes are nonetheless enormous: if one of the two candidates manages to seduce a few independent voters, that could be enough to give them the advantage in November, given how close the election looks set to be.

To do this, Joe Biden must in particular reassure people about his vitality and 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 a word he's saying, isn't that sad?”, said Hazel Reitz, 55, attending a screening of the debate organized by the Republican Party in San Francisco. She will nonetheless vote for the Democrat in November.

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