Biden vs. Trump: 2024 Presidential Debate Showdown

A Nation on Edge: Analyzing the First Presidential Debate of 2024

The first presidential debate of the 2024 election, a historic event held unusually early in the campaign cycle, has left the nation reeling and political analysts scrambling. Broadcast live from Atlanta, Georgia, the debate, a joint production between CNN and its various media platforms, pitted incumbent President Joe Biden against former President Donald Trump in a high-stakes rematch for the nation’s highest office. While both candidates faced scrutiny over their records and plans for the future, the evening was undeniably dominated by President Biden’s performance, sparking widespread concern within the Democratic Party and raising serious questions about his ability to lead for another four years.

Economic Anxieties and Fiscal Responsibility

The debate opened with a focus on the economy, an issue consistently cited as a top concern for voters. Moderator Dana Bash pointed to the rising cost of essential goods and services, such as groceries and housing, under President Biden’s tenure, asking him to address the concerns of voters who feel worse off economically than they were under President Trump.

President Biden acknowledged the economic hardship faced by working-class Americans, attributing it in part to the “corporate greed” he inherited from the previous administration. He highlighted his efforts to create jobs, boost manufacturing, and lower prescription drug prices, citing the implementation of a $35 cap on insulin shots for seniors as a significant achievement (CNN Transcript).

President Trump, in his response, boasted of having presided over “the greatest economy in the history of our country,” arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this progress. He criticized President Biden’s handling of the pandemic, particularly the implementation of vaccine mandates, and claimed credit for the subsequent economic rebound, while blaming Biden for current inflationary pressures (CNN Transcript).

The candidates then sparred over the national debt, with President Trump defending his signature tax cuts, set to expire next year, despite their contribution to the growing deficit. He claimed these cuts spurred economic growth and argued that his administration was poised to start paying down the debt before the pandemic hit (CNN Transcript).

President Biden countered by highlighting the disproportionate benefits of these tax cuts for the wealthy, arguing that requiring billionaires to pay a higher tax rate could generate significant revenue and help address critical issues like childcare and healthcare (CNN Transcript).

The Post-Roe Landscape and the Future of Abortion Rights

The debate then shifted to the highly charged issue of abortion, with Dana Bash referencing the Supreme Court’s recent rulings on the matter. She pressed President Trump, who has taken credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, on whether he would support a nationwide ban on abortion medication, which is currently used in approximately two-thirds of abortions.

President Trump stated he would not block abortion medication and reiterated his stance that the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was supported by a broad spectrum of Americans who wanted the issue returned to the states. He expressed his personal belief in exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother, while also criticizing Democrats for supporting late-term abortions, a claim that is not supported by the provisions of Roe v. Wade (CNN Transcript).

President Biden responded by defending Roe v. Wade, arguing that the vast majority of constitutional scholars supported the ruling. He criticized President Trump’s efforts to restrict abortion access and argued that allowing states to dictate abortion policy would be akin to allowing them to roll back civil rights protections (CNN Transcript).

Immigration, Border Security, and National Identity

The candidates then engaged in a heated exchange on immigration and border security, with Bash questioning President Biden on the record number of migrants who have crossed the southern border during his presidency.

President Biden defended his administration’s efforts to address the situation, citing increased funding for border patrol and asylum officers, as well as a bipartisan agreement aimed at improving border security. He criticized President Trump’s family separation policy, which resulted in the separation of thousands of migrant children from their parents (CNN Transcript).

President Trump, in his response, claimed that his administration had achieved “the safest border in the history of our country,” blaming President Biden for the current situation. He painted a dystopian picture of criminals and terrorists flooding across the border, resulting in increased crime and a decline in national security (CNN Transcript).

When pressed by Bash on his plans for mass deportations, President Trump sidestepped the question, choosing instead to focus on the perceived dangers posed by migrants, repeating unsubstantiated claims about criminals and terrorists entering the country (CNN Transcript).

The Shadow of January 6th and the State of American Democracy

The debate then turned to the events of January 6th, 2021, with Bash questioning President Trump on his actions and inactions leading up to the attack on the Capitol. She pressed him on what he would say to voters who believe he violated his oath to uphold the Constitution and worry that he might do so again.

President Trump deflected the question, choosing instead to focus on what he perceived as the successes of his administration on issues such as border security, energy independence, and the economy. He claimed he had offered to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to secure the Capitol on January 6th but was rebuffed by then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CNN Transcript).

President Biden accused President Trump of inciting the violence on January 6th, arguing that he had sat in the White House for three hours watching the events unfold without taking any action to stop them. He criticized President Trump’s continued support for those convicted of crimes related to the attack and his pronouncements about seeking retribution against his political opponents (CNN Transcript).

President Trump responded by defending his actions on January 6th, claiming that he had called for peaceful protests and blaming Pelosi for the security failures that allowed the Capitol to be breached. He also accused Biden of weaponizing the justice system against him and claimed that the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack had destroyed evidence that would have exonerated him (CNN Transcript).

Lingering Challenges and a Nation at a Crossroads

The debate continued with discussions on persistent challenges facing the nation, including racial disparities, the climate crisis, the opioid epidemic, and the solvency of Social Security. Throughout these exchanges, President Biden struggled to articulate his vision and achievements, while President Trump consistently resorted to unsubstantiated claims, personal attacks, and fearmongering.

The closing statements of the night underscored the stark contrast between the two candidates. President Biden, despite his earlier struggles, attempted to rally viewers with a message of progress and hope, highlighting his accomplishments and outlining his plans for the future (CNN Transcript).

President Trump, on the other hand, painted a bleak picture of a nation in decline, blaming President Biden for its woes and casting himself as the only savior. His closing statement, devoid of any concrete policy proposals, focused on stoking fear and anger, a tactic he has employed successfully in the past (CNN Transcript).

An Uncertain Future

The first presidential debate of 2024 has left the nation with more questions than answers. President Biden’s performance has raised serious doubts about his capacity to lead for another four years, while President Trump’s continued reliance on falsehoods and inflammatory rhetoric has further deepened the nation’s political divide. As the 2024 campaign enters a new phase, it remains to be seen how these dynamics will play out and what impact they will have on the future of American democracy.