The Oldest Incumbent vs. the Defendant

WASHINGTON – Joe Biden and Donald Trump prepare for the first presidential candidate debate United States of America (US) on Thursday local time or Friday (28/6/2024) WIB.

This inaugural debate will be a turning point in the upcoming November election when millions of voters watch the two candidates’ duel.

The debate—between Biden, the incumbent, and Trump, a convicted felon—is the opening salvo in a high-stakes summer of campaigning in a deeply polarized and tense United States still reeling from the chaos and violence that accompanied the 2020 election.

With only two debates in this election cycle, Thursday’s debate has taken on added significance, and both candidates have stepped up their personal attacks, with national polls showing the two neck and neck.

As the candidates put the finishing touches on their debate strategies, one important question remains: Will Trump, the political boxer, rein in his aggressive tendencies or unleash his brash nature, as he did in their chaotic first debate four years ago?

“I think I’ve been preparing for it my whole life…We’re going to do very well,” Trump told the right-wing network Newsmax in an interview about his debate preparations.

President Joe Biden has been trying hard to avoid any major gaffes. In the meantime, he did nothing on Wednesday—at least on social media, where he said: “Donald Trump is the greatest threat to our democracy.” That’s a message he will almost certainly deliver on debate night.

President Biden arrived Thursday aboard Air Force One in Atlanta, the capital of battleground southeast Georgia, for a duel at headquarters CNNwhile his challenger flew on his private jet, dubbed “Trump Force One.”

Trump enjoys a slight advantage in key states, but overall polls look very close in an election that will likely be decided by a few photo finishes in several battlegrounds.