President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump began their first debate heading into the 2024 presidential election without shaking hands and devoted themselves to talking policy on Thursday night.
Here are some key moments from their 90-minute head-to-head matchup:
ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Their first exchange addressed economics.
Biden, his voice hushed and husky, spoke of economic progress during his tenure, saying it rescued him from “free fall” and “chaos” when he took office in 2021 at the end of Trump’s term. He cleared his throat several times.
Trump listened with a puzzled expression but did not attempt to interrupt, although his microphone was muted while Biden spoke.
When it was his turn to speak, Trump boasted about the state of the economy during his term, saying that “everything was going very well.” He blamed Biden for the price hike that has frustrated Americans.
“Inflation is killing our country,” Trump said. “It’s killing us.”
ABORTION
Biden blamed Trump for eroding abortion rights after the former Republican president’s three Supreme Court justices voted to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling, which had recognized the constitutional right to abortion nationwide. The reversal has emboldened many voters who support abortion rights and contributed to Democratic victories in the 2022 midterm and special elections.
“What you have done was terrible,” Biden said, addressing his rival. He pledged to restore the law under the Roe v. Wade ruling if he wins a second term, but he did not say how he would accomplish it. He said the idea of leaving abortion laws back in the hands of the states “is like saying we’re going to leave civil rights back in the hands of the states.”
Trump said his presidency returned the abortion issue to the people through state laws. He noted that he supports exceptions to the abortion ban for rape, incest and if the mother’s life is in danger, and repeated his false claim that Biden supports abortion up to and after birth.
“We believe the Democrats are the radicals, not the Republicans,” Trump said.
ASSAULT ON THE CAPITOL
Trump lied about his role in the January 6, 2021, assault on the federal Capitol by his supporters and attempted to divert attention by changing the subject.
Asked about his role, he said he had encouraged people to act “peacefully and patriotically,” then changed the subject to attack former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat.
He said Biden should be “ashamed” of the way the cases against those charged in the Jan. 6 assault have been handled.
Trump, who has floated the idea of pardoning the rioters, suggested that his supporters who stormed the Capitol were actually peaceful and are now being politically persecuted.
In fact, rioters engaged in hand-to-hand combat with police and used improvised weapons to attack officers. More than 1,400 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riots, and more than 1,000 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial.
“The only person on this stage who is a convicted felon is the man I’m looking at right now,” Biden said of his rival.
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2024-06-29 08:43:15