The two political heavyweights engaged in a fierce exchange over a range of issues, including abortion, foreign policy, the economy, and immigration. Biden took aim at Trump over his recent criminal conviction and held him accountable for the skyrocketing inflation. Trump, on the other hand, boasted about his cognitive test scores and claimed to have left Biden with a "great" legacy.
Despite Biden's personal belief that he performed well, Democratic fundraisers expressed concern in the aftermath of the debate. The global media, too, had much to say about the performances of both Biden and Trump.
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According to China's CGTN, the English-language service of the state-run China Global Television Network, the debate was marked by a "halting clash" with Biden starting hesitantly and Trump responding steadily. The outlet noted that accusations of lies and claims of being the worst-ever U.S. president were prevalent. The South China Morning Post highlighted the starkly contrasting visions for America's global role presented by the two candidates, describing the debate as "high-stakes."
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The Times of India led its coverage with the Democrats' concerns about Biden's performance, stating that Biden delivered a "shaky, halting performance," while Trump launched a series of often false attacks. India Today echoed this sentiment, describing Biden as "stammering and fumbling" and Trump as "forceful and aggressive."
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In the United Kingdom, The Guardian pointed out issues with both candidates, noting that Trump's responses often strayed from the topic at hand and contained frequent false claims. Biden, on the other hand, "frequently struggled to complete his thoughts." The Times of London suggested that Biden's re-election campaign was "plunged into crisis" following the debate, describing his responses as "meandering and muddled," in contrast to Trump's "more assured and disciplined" replies.
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The BBC suggested that Biden struggled to counter Trump's attacks, noting that the debate was "marked by personal attacks." Germany's broadcaster ZDF described the debate as "more civilized" but "more charged" than in 2020. It noted that while Trump had a better start, Biden managed to catch up later on.
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On individual topics, Biden had "clear words" for Trump on abortion, but faced discomfort when the topic shifted to immigration. Trump, meanwhile, attempted to sidestep questions about the January 2021 Capitol Hill riot.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung, a German newspaper, titled one of its stories: "Joe Biden's bad evening," noting that despite Biden's answers having more substance, his verbal stumbling raised concerns. The newspaper summarized the debate as a disgrace for Biden, a missed opportunity for Trump, and a loss for the American people.
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France24, an English-language French news organization, led its headline on the debate with: "Biden stumbles, Trump lies." It described Biden's performance as "uneven," while Trump "rattled off a series of attacks that included numerous falsehoods." Le Monde, another French publication, characterized Biden as "faltering" and Trump as "forceful," describing the debate overall as "fiery."
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As reported by CNBC, both Donald Trump's office and the Democratic Party have been contacted for comments on the global response to the debate. The world watches on as the U.S. election campaign continues to unfold, with the first presidential debate setting a contentious tone for the political discourse to follow.
