President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump squared off in Atlanta on Thursday for the first of two scheduled presidential debates. While Trump delivered a strong performance marked by a series of scathing indictments of Biden’s tenure in the White House, Biden put forth what may go down as the worst single debate performance of any presidential candidate in history – one so bad that even the president’s staunchest allies in the corporate media were left openly suggesting he should be replaced as the Democrat nominee.
For Trump, the biggest success of the night was undoubtedly his ability to hammer home several key issues that will move votes and matter most to the American people.
On a broad level, Trump repeatedly accused Biden of destroying the country and being the “worst president ever.” Those charges, while undoubtedly subjective and arguable, landed because they channeled a deep anger among the American public that has been reflected in public polling on both Biden’s performance as president and general sentiment on the direction of the nation.
Trump also repeatedly mentioned that the border crisis is threatening to bankrupt Social Security and Medicare – a narrative that the corporate press has conspicuously avoided but that nonetheless surely caught the attention of high-propensity senior voters and those approaching retirement age.
The other issues Trump returned to time and again were likewise the items high on the list of things Americans care most about – inflation, illegal aliens taking American jobs, the Afghanistan debacle, and the decline of American prestige abroad. Just as he has so effectively throughout the course of his political career, Trump honed in on the concerns weighing on the mind of everyday Americans that the political class typically ignores.
One of the best moments for Trump – and the most humorous of the night – came when Biden attempted to drag the former president into a debate about who is the better golfer. After a few back-and-forth barbs, Trump implored Biden, “Let’s not act like children,” steering the conversation back toward the issue at hand. For a Biden campaign that has sought to portray Biden as “the bigger man” and the more serious candidate in the race, that seemingly minor exchange may prove devastating in terms of what it conveyed to the voters watching.
But that was hardly the worst moment for Biden – after all, he was at least coherent when he was talking about his golf game.
The same cannot be said of Biden’s performance during the rest of the debate, particularly during the first half when the largest number of people were watching. At several points during the first few minutes of the program, Biden stumbled over his words and looked visibly confused – appearing to confirm everything his opponents have been saying about his cognitive decline.
In fact, Biden was so incoherent at times that Trump even had trouble responding to his statements when given the opportunity. “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows either,” the former president said at one point following a rambling answer from Biden on immigration.
What little strategy Biden appeared to have centered on bringing up every debunked media con from the past eight years, from the thoroughly discredited “very fine people on both sides” story to the most recent “bloodbath” hoax. While that line of attack may prove effective in rallying diehard MSNBC and CNN fans, it likely did little to sway the Independents and disaffected Democrats more concerned about the cost of groceries and their mortgage than some ostensibly damming comment Trump supposedly made nearly a decade ago.
As a final display of just how weak and frail Biden appeared throughout the debate, First Lady Jill Biden was forced to gingerly help him down the stairs as the candidates departed.
But while Thursday’s debate provided viewers plenty of insights about Trump’s vision for the country and underscored serious questions about Biden’s physical fitness for office, the real headline may be the full-blown panic Biden’s performance incited from the liberal media.
Immediately following the debate, after a halfhearted attempt to explain away Biden’s poor performance by suggesting that the president had a “cold,” every panelist on both CNN and MSNBC acknowledged the undeniable – the night was a complete and unmitigated disaster for Biden’s re-election effort.
NBC’s Kristen Welker and Chuck Todd along with CNN’s John King and Abby Phillip and MSNBC’s Joy Reid all reported hearing “panic” from top Democrat operatives during the debate. Todd remarked that “Biden looks like the caricature that conservative media has been painting.” King described the feeling emerging among Democrats as a “deep, wide, and very aggressive panic.”
Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s own former communications director, called his performance a “disappointment.” Former Obama advisor Van Jones described watching the debate as simply “painful.”
Even more concerningly for team Biden, several normally friendly voices in the media have now begun openly speculating about replacing him on the Democrat ticket. For a media establishment that has thus far gone to great lengths to spin all of Biden’s failures as successes and cover for all of his gaffes, this response felt like a watershed moment.
The second and final debate is not scheduled until September 10, after the RNC and DNC conventions. But now more than ever, Americans are right to wonder if the same two candidates will be standing on that stage.
Shane Harris is a writer and political consultant from Southwest Ohio. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.
When will the people writing these articles simply say the truth of what Joe Biden is. Old Joe has been suffering from dementia since at least 2020, when he and the Democrat Party, that decided to back him because he was the least offensive option they could leverage to push their socialist / Marxist agenda, opted to run his campaign from Biden’s basement. The man hasn’t been able to do any long form public appearances without the aid of both a teleprompter and at least a couple of days of intense, behind closed doors preparation couple with an anti-dementia medication during the last 4 years. Biden was NEVER up to being POTUS as it was plain to see in every short public appearance he has made over the last 4 years. Last night was nothing new or at least it shouldn’t be if the American public has been paying even minimal attention to how the country is being run. The ONLY change last night was that it is clear that whatever drug cocktail they’ve been pumping into Old Joe, even with 8 days of rest and controlled conditions at Camp David to prep him, is clearly no longer even moderately effective.
Without a teleprompter to anchor him to some degree, what we saw last night is what a person with moderate dementia looks like. Confused, inarticulate and combative as he struggled to try and recite the talking points his staff and handlers spent the last 6 days trying to get him to remember. Joe was exposed simply for being what he is and the MSM and the Democrats are now scrambling on how to distance themselves from the “useful idiot” that has clearly outlived his usefulness to the Democrat Party and the Marxist agenda they espouse and seek to continue implementing. Joe is no longer the useful front man for that agenda and the Democrats and the MSM now have to try and find a plausible way to kick Old Joe to the curb and replace him and Kamala Harris with a new front man pushing the exact same Marxist agenda without appearing to violate every tenet of identity politics they claim is crucial to “saving democracy”.
The problem for the Democrats of course is they will need to violate several state laws, like in Nevada, Wisconsin and elsewhere, to get Biden replaced on the ballot with a new front person. Not an easy task at this late date in the whole process leading up to the election. So, the Democrats may be stuck with Old Joe as the candidate on the ballot and will instead have to massively ramp up their assortment of ballot manipulation schemes to literally flood the key swing states with way more Biden ballots than they originally figured to secure another “win”. That of course then runs into the potential for discovery should various voting districts start counting more total ballots than there are actual voters. The last thing the DNC and the MSM wants is a situation where it becomes even more obvious than last time that things were nudged to put Old Joe into the WH.
Obviously, we wouldn’t have to worry about any of this if we simply returned to the pre-Covid voting process and one day voting. After last night’s Biden performance, even the most obtuse of Democrat voters must realize that Old Joe isn’t up to the job and likely all the lies the MSM have repeated for the last 4 years about Old Joe being as sharp as a tack behind closed doors were merely lies and propaganda being fed to them. However, we still have the deeply flawed and prone to manipulation voting process that the Dems rushed into place over the minimal objections of the establishment GOP from 2020. So, we can’t completely rule out the Dems won’t be able to drag Old Joe across the finish line again despite Joe’s obvious unfitness for the job. Things should get quite interesting between now and the election as the Democrats seek to keep their lame horse viable for their purposes in the race. Beware the myriad of distractions the Dems will be unleashing between now and then.
Lying Jack*** Geriatric Joe Biden certainly lived up to my description of him! The man LIES Everytime He Opens His Mouth. I was earlier watching MSNBC and wasn’t a bit surprised that they used the typical Communist tactic of accusing their opponent of exactly what they themselves are guilty of which is to accuse Trump of “Lying” when they themselves are guilty of which is LYING!!! Democrats disgust me!
The one thing I expected Biden to say in the debate last night was “You kids get off my lawn!” I was so disappointed. But I just kept thinking Trump should put Biden on his lap and start calling him Walter. Jeff Dunham would have loved it I think. As much as Biden lied during the debate, it was the “fact Checking” afterwards that had the most lies.
Five days to prepare for a 90 minute debate. We’re in deep trouble if the Dems win with this man at the helm again.
Go President Trump!
I’m positive that the person who is running the country now (cause it’s not Biden) will replace him with another stringed puppet. The world was watching this debate and laughing America straight to the “funny farm.” The wide open border with illegals raping & murdering American women and children, being cared for whileWake up America!
Looked like definite times Biden was paying attention to a voice in his ear, even a couple times rubbing his right ear. I figured he would have an ear piece to coach him. Plus a couple times he looked at notes, ostensibly ones he’d written as he had a pen in his hand at times.
Trump on the other hand, when asked a question, continually referred back to Biden’s previous comments to respond to those and ignored the question just asked. So moderators would ask the question again, especially the one would he accept the outcome of the election no matter who won. Finally Trump responded he would as long as it was honest. We know where that goes…But at least Trump retained self-control and kept his language clean.
So last night should prove to be a good outcome for Trump and a not-so-good outcome for Biden.
IF the Dems create a way to remove Biden and replace him with Michelle Obama, I will scream!! But I really won’t be surprised; term #4 for Barack.
I think they wanted Joe Biden to look like the demented patsy he is. They can now eagerly replace him with someone worse. I don’t think though that they thought he would perform as poorly. The 2 minute cut off rule worked well and they did address most of the concerns of the American public.
Come on AMAC. Stop censoring every single comment I post. Are you that terrified of offending the DNC, that you can’t allow some honest posts?
I’m a dedicated Republican, but President Biden’s performance was an embarassment to all Americans. Further proof how shallow and desperate the Left really is.
Sadly, the NeverTrumpers and the Deep State will likely make sure that Biden wins. I didn’t watch as I got rid of TV, but I’m glad Trump reigned in his usual self. Not sure this will help him win, but I hope so. Conservative media need to work 4 times harder to get the truth out. The sheeple have been brain-washed into believing the lies spouted by MSM since 2016. If the people knew the real truth and that they’d been lied to, they might just wake up in time to save America.
Instead if debating whether Biden “should” run for President, they should (have been) asking if he’s competent to BE President right NOW! And what a coincidence, “suddenly” the media sees what we’ve been seeing for quite a while: the cognitive mental decline of the POTUS & CIC! Shame on the media & those close to him to perpetuate the lie! And finally, if Joe is unable to run the country, WHO IS RUNNING IT NOW? I always thought the “Obama Third Term” was just a conspiracy theory but not now. Or like Woodrow Wilsons last term, is it JILL?
Dems have Zero to stand on
Joe Biden was very apparently frail, and confused on several issues. Donald Trump on the other hand disappointed me by deliberately avoiding and not answering some very specific questions from the moderators. Donald Trump however gave strong and forceful statements, indicative of a strong leader.
I LOVED watching my President in action on that stage, taking the reins (ever so politely) and not LETTING the moderators PUSH HIM and RUSH HIM from one ‘topic’ to the next, without giving him the chance to ‘respond’ to all the LIES just fomented by JB. It was a beautiful thing to watch! He never disappoints! The American People are highly privileged to have such a Man whose one goal is to Make America GREAT Again, as it was BEFORE the Dems took charge and have tried to DESTROY everything that America IS – which was Obama’s stated goal of ‘fundamentally-transforming America’- that nobody asked what that meant! when he said it! And now we know… and we reject it! We want America BACK!
This is the exact reason the Biden campaign kept him locked up in his basement during the election cycle. His handlers and the media are all complicit in hiding his cognitive decline all of this time and denying it all the while. There is loads of documented evidence and it isn’t like people have been silent about it.
If Old Joe “changes his mind” and steps down, every voter who has the ability to think for him/herself is gonna know exactly why. That they’ve been lying to us for three years and we aren’t supposed to notice or care. And on another point, every D that contributed to supporting Joe will watch their money go over to someone else they may not want. Primaries are already wrapped up but the party will have to pick someone the actual people didn’t vote for. Bad, bad situation, the Ds have really backed themselves between a rock and a hard place.
It was obvious that JB had all the questions in advance, and he had a ‘script’ to answer each one already prepared, and he was reading it! but it didn’t matter because it was all so OBVIOUS to viewers what was going on! Trump DIDN’T have the questions in advance, and he was listening to every word that JB said, and answered to as many of the LIES coming at him as he could in the few seconds they gave HIM to respond. Did you notice that JB had MORE TIME than DJT was given? I can’t wait for THAT statistic to come out! But I thought the ‘moderators’ did a pretty good job actually of TRYING to remain a picture of ‘unbiased’ throughout, except where they ‘thanked’ JB for HIS answers, but not DJT for HIS (I think they did once).
According to Yahoo News – Joe Biden won the debate last night. According to Yahoo – He was correct in everything he said and Donald Trump was wrong. the Democrats only read CNN and other Democrat news – they believe every thing they say. Even some of the democrats i would consider smart.
Obiden was being fed every word either through hidden earpieces or implants and she also said she thinks he was using smart contacts. It makes sense the way he was staring off into space and moving his eyes around.
I’m positive that the person who is running the country now (cause it’s not Biden) will replace him with another stringed puppet. The world was watching this debate and laughing America straight to the “funny farm.” The wide open border with illegals raping & murdering American women and children while we wake up every morning to more bad news is an atrocity. Wake up America while you still have an America to wake up in! We may be just one election away from still being free. May God keep and bless the USA!
Another debate….maybe not. President TRUMP still has my vote. Even if I have to do a write in!
“First Lady Jill Biden was forced to gingerly help him down the stairs as the candidates departed”. After Mr. Trump strode triumphantly off the stage, Mr. Biden stood there bewildered until “Dr. Jill” came to lead him down the stairs (consisting of two steps to which, to his credit, Mr Biden did not stumble on)..
This was absolutely a Dem setup so they have a legit reason to replace Joe. Now the problem is, how do they get rid of Kamala? President Trump did a masterful job of not being too aggressive.
If it wasn’t for the corruption which has already occurred by the Biden’s, one could feel sorry for him, but President Trump was right. He’s simply a liar. Dr. Jill is the one who should be condemned at this point. She KNEW in 2020 he was suffering from dementia and yet she allowed the media and the puppeteers to continually exploit him. She must want her portrait in the White House a whole lot more than she cared for her husband. This has been and still is ”senior abuse.”
President Biden has been unsurpassed at sowing panic and division among Americans. For all the years he’s been in office, it’s been evident this administration has played the old shell game. “Keep the water stirred up and muddy over here, and hopefully, they won’t notice what you’re doing over there. Those of us who actually read and use genuine discernment, not panic, to form opinions, are not fooled. America can not afford any more of the Biden agendas.
Joe Biden will be able to be the President for another four years. After the liberal stooges commit the usual voter fraud tricks, a victorious Biden could return to the White House and run the country.
Of course there will have to be a few changes to support Joe. First he will need a wheel chair to help the “arthritis” condition in his knees, or maybe a bad back pain. Then he will have to have a remote controlled “hover board” so he can “walk” to the podium to give a speech. Oh, and that hover board will include a vertical steel rod that he can be strapped to so he doesn’t fall over. Lastly, he will be given peanut brittle, or some other tasty treat to chew on so he will appear to be talking while a sound system speaks obama’s lines on the teleprompter.
So Joe Biden will be fully able to act as the Chief Executive of the Administration for another term. I mean if you don’t vote for Biden you ain’t Black. You might, however, be an illegal alien with a drivers license in one of the swing states. And of course, ALL of the dead people will vote for Joe again, even the dead Republicans.
Joe’s head is on the chopping block. The big question is: Who is the replacement?
There were a number of times during the so -called debate, I told my wife that Bident had an earpiece. He was definitely paying attention to something in his right ear, and trying to comprehend what the message was?????????????????????
Biden was certainly not much more coherent when he was “elected by cheating” in 2020. Last night’s frightening exhibit of Biden’s non- feasance in office is solid proof that his key supporters in media and government have known of his worsening condition for YEARS… WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING OR PUSHING FOR HIS REMOVAL.
They’ve been pulling his strings as though he was acting in a Pinocchio movie, and using him to enact horrible legislations, while diminishing the ability of our citizens to be solvent, and to live happy, safe lives.
HOW MANY “SURROGATE DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTS” HAVE BEEN MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS REGARDING OUR GOVERNANCE, AND, FEEDING THEM TO BIDEN…. EVER SINCE BIDEN WAS BOOSTED INTO OFFICE BY ELECTORAL CHEATING??????
If there was any lying going on, it poured out of Biden. Trump called dead soldiers suckers and losers, Charlette Ville calling Nazi/supremacist, Jan6th event, job creations, border invasion, middle east war, social security/medicare. There was more. ALL from Biden.
WELL WELL, Tweedle DEe sho2ed his best self. Kyle L.
Illegal aliens are doing much more to all of us than just taking jobs!
They are consuming far more resources than people might think, pharmaceuticals
(medicine), hospital beds and doctor’s offices to name two very big ones!
They are all being given voter registration forms regardless of their ineligibility to vote.
They are adding to the overall crime rates everywhere!
And many states are now giving them Medicaid and Medicare and probably even Social Security money!
What we are witnessing here is the wholesale giving away of our country to outsiders simply because one political party wants to keep a total grip on power, and they no longer trust the electorate to vote the way that they want us to!
Now that the precedent has been set, I’m hoping to see this scourge in the White House legally indicted this January, and immediately upon leaving office!
None of what this administration has done over the past 3 1/2 years has been a mistake! It has all been very deliberate!
There is no question Obiden is the worst president of all times. He lied the whole 90 minutes. He lied about no soldiers being killed under his administration. Forgot already the 13 that died in Afghanistan plus all those that were left behind. You know Joe the ones that were supporting us. There were 40% less people coming across the border under his administration than under Trump. Excuse me? The border agents voted for Obiden according the puppet. No they have never and never will support Obiden. These agents have seen the death and destruction up close. Everyone has encountered one or more of these invaders. Only Obiden who lives in a trans world where he feels at home. He accused Trump of calling skin heads “good people” only Trump never did. But Obiden called Magas domestic terrorists and fascist and Nazis. I wish Trump had said that. Obiden has run this economy into the ground but blames Trump. When one doesn’t have an offense I guess defense is what is left. We have known Obiden’s true nature and plan for years and no more so than the last 3 years. The decline in America’s standing in the world may it be economical or militarily has declined to the point that Iran and China have secret cells all over America. The Hamas is dictating to the universities how to behave against the Jews. He hates the Jews like he hates the Catholics. He said as much last night that if you don’t vote for a democrat you don’t believe in democracy. What? In a democracy you can vote for anyone you want. That is why it is a democracy. What Obiden is saying I order you to vote for me. We call that a dictatorship, Joe. I hope people heard everything he said because he lost his train of thought so many times that nobody understood what he said. Not in real time anyway. But go and vote for this man, just don’t blame those who didn’t when America is underwater as a nation and we are all learning to speak Chinese.
Consider this, Biden did better than he usually does, which suggests to me, that the universal call from the Left to get another candidate was the required narrative even before the debate started. There are almost no Dems who want Biden to run again, but they had to manufacture an excuse to get rid of him, and this debate was it.
I just watched Biden give a prepared teleprompter speech in North Carolina. I was amazed that there was no sign of the cold that his backers said impeded him last night. He must have stumbled across the ultimate cure for a cold that has eluded scientists for many years.
I don’t think anyone really expected pearls of wisdom falling out of Biden’s mouth Pathetic doe’s not describe it But what really is not pathetic but scarier than hell is that there is even a possibility no matter how slight that Biden should be considered a presidential material That there are people who approve of his performance and those who call themselves undecided voters WTH is there to decide This does not bode well Maybe dems will pull Lady Macbeth out of the hat at the last minute Looks like she is preparing for something all pulled stretched and botoxed
Michelle/Michael Obama to run??? Be the first time a He/She ever runs as far as I know. But then the demonrats are known for doing ignorant things.
Biden has dementia. Acts just like my brother-in-law only ten times worse. Period, end of discussion.
Whomever is handling Trump and keeping him focused, KEEP IT UP!!
NEVER let Trump say anything without verifying first. Keep strictly to the facts and on point!
I didn’t watch but I hear the “moderators” played it straight. That was a surprise! Do you suppose they were told to let Slow Joe fall to line up a new candidate? Those 8 days and 16 helpers didn’t do much for his performance, did they?
In a way I do feel sorry for the old guy (Joe). Jill should let him go home, sit on the Porch and play with his grandkids.
This great Country has got to turn around soon!
Biden the Inept is the same guy the Totalitarian Communist Democrat Party Comrade’s installed back in 2020 but they can no longer keep him and his policies hidden from the American people, even with the corrupt legacy media propaganda machine.You can see it everyday, everywhere in every city, food prices, gas prices, energy costs, housing costs, manufacturing costs and lets not forget the crime, illegal immigrants on every corner, occupying all are facilities and hotels.It’s so obvious that you would have to use all three of the 3 monkeys not to notice.
Those who have been covering up Biden’s dementia have a lot to answer to the American people and, in particular, to Democratic supporters. Sadly, some will still support him.
if you vote for biden, you probably gave your car keys to your teenager immediately after they wrapped your car around a tree and said, “Gee whiz, kiddo! never seen that kind of destruction before! can’t even tell it’s a car. here are the keys to the new car i bought for you.Have fun! see you tonight!”
President Trump looked great on the other hand Biden looked confused and very tired. What was sad Biden’s answers were bad, on the other hand President Trump looked great his answer’s were very good and he pointed out what has been happening on the southern border and inflation looking at Biden he looked empty no expression. President Trump has my vote never Biden and Harris.
No surprises. I’d feel sorry for him were he not such a deadly, evil creature.
Ole Joe looks like a dead man walking. He may reach his expiration date before November.
I keep remembering everything I have read about Woodrow Wilson’s last days in office. Like Biden’s wife, his wife was also calling the shots
Once again we had the Devil perform last night that is how the Devil works. He came to make a fool out of himself.
Joe didn’t lose the debate….that was either a cheap fake or a deep fake I tell you!
Trump claiming Biden is destroying the country is “suggestive and arguable”? Are all “Southwest Ohio writers and political consultants”, lifetime residents of their parents basements or just you Mr. Harris?
For Gods sake man, ask your folks if its ok to go outside and then LOOK for goodness sake and then recall how things were just a few years ago before your folks had to rent out your old room to keep beans on the table.
Idiot.
I could not watch the debate all the way through, but as they would say , when somebody goofed up, he stepped on his crank