Biden struggles, Trump roars in first 2024 debate
Former President Donald Trump repeatedly attacks President Biden for being confused During yesterday’s first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump, 78, spoke with clarity and force, attacking Biden’s record, making wild assertions and repeatedly lying. Many of Trump’s claims have become go-to arguments on the campaign trail, such as the counterfactual argument that there would not have been a war in Ukraine if he had been in the White House or the false allegation that the Justice Department was involved in the state case against him.
Trump criticized Biden’s border policies for promoting “Biden immigration crime” and criticized him for corruption, etc. Biden accused Trump of threatening to withdraw from NATO and disrespecting veterans, but failed when trying to contrast with Trump on the issue of abortion
Biden also overstated issues like how much Trump’s tariffs on most imported goods would cost American citizens. Fact-checking of candidate statements.
President Biden, 81, attended the debate to reassure voters concerned about his age. Most of the time, the voice is very soft.Trump, who has been accused of lying about his health, spoke in a trembling, sometimes difficult to understand voice. He was incoherent and often seemed to be confused — at one point Trump said, “I really don’t know what he said at the end. I don’t think he knew what he said either.”
Biden’s campaign later said he had just a cold, but his appearance appeared likely to heighten concerns about his suitability for the job.
Trump supporters quickly Declare victoryand many Democrats are starting to get anxious A few minutes into the debate. Here are the Reaction samples.
This gets very personal: Biden called Trump a “stupid” and a “loser” and referred to his infidelity with a porn star as a “stray cat.” Trump called Biden a “weak” president who was “laughing” at by world leaders.
Quote: “Joe Biden’s debate performance was truly disappointing,” Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s former White House communications director, said on CNN. “I don’t think there’s any other way to explain it. His biggest problem was proving to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina — and he didn’t do that.”
As Macron rolls the dice, France holds its breath
French President Emmanuel Macron shocked the country by dissolving parliament and calling early elections after his party was defeated by the far right in the European elections. Voters are due to go to the polls on Sunday for the first round of voting.
To find out more, I spoke with Roger Cohen, the Paris bureau chief of The New York Times.
What are the dangers?
Roger: Well, President Macron is betting big. The odds are that the far-right National Rally could win a majority, or even an outright majority, in the country’s parliament. That would mean the end of France’s absolute postwar taboo against the far right from holding the highest office in government.
Why is Macron calling for this vote after his disastrous defeat in the European Parliament elections?
Some believe he may be calculating that if the National Alliance enters government now, the party will lose credibility by the time of the 2027 presidential election because governing the country is much more difficult than grumbling outside the gates of power.
Do you think this is a reasonable strategy?
No. I think, first of all, it’s unnecessary. Second, the risks are extremely high. Third, the Olympics are less than three weeks away, and all eyes are going to be on France. Fourth, if the far right does win, there will likely be street violence, protests, and chaos in France. So the question is: Is the president really prepared for chaos in France when the Olympics begin?
Now, none of that might happen. But is that wise? Is that prudent? Is that rational? I really don’t think so.
What do the French people think about this?
The general mood here is one of consternation, confusion and tension, but much of this tension has surfaced, with people worried that a big victory for the far right would lead to violent demonstrations.
What do you think might happen?
I think the most likely outcome is that the National Rally wins – there’s maybe a 20% chance that they’ll win an outright majority. But more likely, they’ll be the largest party. Macron would then face a parliament dominated by the National Rally, which has a large number of far-left figures, and his party and his relative power in parliament would be greatly weakened.
More on the French election:
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When I was 30
To celebrate Pride Month, 30 LGBTQ artists ranging in age from 34 to 93, Shared memories of their 30th birthday Along with my colleagues at T: Time’s Style Magazine.
Their responses form a chronology, a group portrait, and a multifaceted queer history, spanning nearly a decade before Stonewall to 2024.
