What happened in the first presidential debate: Recapping Trump and Biden’s key moments

In the first debate for the 2024 presidential election, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump met on June 27, 2024, at CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta.

The debate, moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, was a tense 90-minute exchange that highlighted the deep divisions between the two candidates on key issues such as abortion, the 2024 election, and their personal fitness for office.

Key issues and abortion debate

Abortion was one of the most prominent topics. Trump supported the Supreme Court’s decision to allow continued access to the abortion pill mifepristone, while also praising the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Biden, on the other hand, warned that a Trump presidency could see a national abortion ban, especially with a conservative majority in Congress, setting up a clear contrast on reproductive rights.

Personal attacks

The debate saw sharp personal attacks. Trump criticised Biden, calling him “incoherent” at times, while Biden fired back, labelling Trump a “whiner” who still refuses to accept his 2020 election defeat.

Biden challenged Trump, claiming he wouldn’t accept the 2024 election results if he lost again, stating, “You can’t stand loss… Something snapped in you when you lost the last time.”

Trump’s health and cognitive tests

Trump, aged 78, responded to questions about his age by boasting about his physical and cognitive health.

He referenced cognitive tests he had taken during his presidency, stating, “I took two cognitive tests. I aced them, both of them,” and even mentioned his recent success on the golf course, saying, “I just won two club championships.”

Biden’s struggle and health concerns

President Biden, facing concerns over his delivery, appeared hoarse and occasionally stumbled over his words. His campaign later clarified that his raspy voice was due to a cold.

Despite this, Biden remained optimistic about his performance, telling reporters afterward, “I think we did well.” However, some Democrats expressed worry over his uneven presentation during the debate.

Overall, the debate didn’t lead to any decisive victories for either candidate. Both Biden and Trump faced criticism for their performances -Biden for his at times disjointed delivery, and Trump for evading questions and making questionable claims.

But a month later, President Joe Biden announced his exit from the presidential race and made way for Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic candidate.

Neither candidate landed a significant blow, and the debate is unlikely to shift the election landscape in any major way.

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