The conclusions of the Biden-Trump debate: abortion, immigration and “morality”

In their first televised debate, President Biden and former President Trump called each other criminals and liars and looked at each other with open disdain.

Biden was hoping to get a boost in polls, which show Trump with a slight lead, particularly in battleground states. But Biden's early difficulties with his words and the lack of firmness in his voice have created panic among Democrats. Here are some conclusions:

Biden comes out flat

Biden walked out slowly and stiffly, his voice hoarse. Trump sounded like a slightly toned down, less bombastic version of himself when he declared that under his administration “everything was going well.”

President Joe Biden speaks during Thursday's debate with former President Trump in Atlanta.

(Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

Voters looking for signs of Biden's vitality in the early rounds probably had a hard time finding them. She stumbled over her words (she has had a lifelong stutter that she struggles to control) and looked down often as she appeared to take notes. She recovered as the 90-minute debate from Atlanta progressed, but first impressions were harsh.

Before the debate, Trump had complained about the lack of a live audience. But he may have helped keep him in check as he appeared to sap Biden's energy.

Biden’s age, 81, is one of his biggest political handicaps, and this debate may have made it worse. Trump recently turned 78, a fact Biden alluded to when he called him “three years younger and far less competent.”

Abortion brings the first heat.

After a slow start, Biden perked up when moderators asked about abortion.

Trump followed a well-worn line about how he had returned the issue to the states, falsely claiming it was “something everyone wanted” and saying “the country is now coming together on the issue.”

Biden, showing some emotion, responded that “no politician should make that decision,” referring to when to have an abortion.

Trump then attempted to tell another falsehood: that some states allowed babies to be killed after birth.

“That’s simply not true,” Biden said, adding: “We are not in favor of late-term abortion. Period, period, period.”

The exchange ended with Biden vowing to veto any national abortion ban that reaches his desk, warning that Trump would likely sign one. For young women and single-issue voters, that promise may have weight.

Trump talks about immigration but avoids deportations

Trump was eager to play offense on the border and immigration, the issue that animates his campaign and where he holds a lead in the polls over Biden.

“We had the most secure border in the history of our country,” Trump said. “All I had to do was leave it.”

President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate Former President Donald Trump, left, at a presidential debate

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Biden has sought to address immigration in recent months, proposing a bipartisan border bill that Trump scuttled and, more recently, executive actions that included new restrictions on asylum applications.

Trump, who has used demonizing language against immigrants throughout the campaign, claimed that “we live in a rat's nest” and that “we are now literally an uncivilized country,” but did not give an answer on how he would carry out mass deportations.

'Moral of a stray cat'

It all started with a question to Trump about his guilt for the January 6, 2021 insurrection and the possibility that it caused another similar incident.

Trump swayed, weaved and made sure not to respond, stating instead that the reputation of the United States under Biden had plummeted around the world and was now “horrible,” and that Biden should be “ashamed” of how it has fared. blamed on the insurgents. by the courts.

Biden responded that there was only one person on stage who was a convicted felon, prompting Trump to proclaim, “I've done nothing wrong.”

Biden responded with what will likely be a viral moment, pointing out that Trump slept with adult film star Stormy Daniels (which Trump also denies) and declaring, “You have the morals of an alley cat.”

The exchange marked a moment in which Biden abandoned his ivory tower approach to politics and stepped into the ring, something many have said is necessary against a gifted verbal boxer like Trump, even if Biden's comment sounded like it was coming. straight from a Humphrey Bogart movie.

Trump does not promise to accept the results

Trump, who incited the January 6 insurrection, was asked three times if he would accept the election results once judicial challenges were exhausted. He refused to give a categorical answer.

“If they are a fair, legal and good election, absolutely,” he said.

Biden, building on Trump's attack on democracy, seized the opportunity.

“You’re a crybaby,” he said. “You can’t handle loss. Something broke in you when you lost last time.”

This should not be a debate

The final conclusion may be that “this should not be a debate,” as Trump said at one point.

Both candidates did not answer questions and instead rambled on with confusing points of view, including a strange exchange about their golf handicaps.

This combination of photos shows Republican presidential candidate Former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden.

Trump focused on fear-mongering, warning that Biden would “take us into World War III” and claiming that “we are a nation in decline.” Even when answering a question about child care, he returned to his main themes: immigration, taxes and criticizing Biden as the “worst president” in history. Biden responded by saying that polls of historians declare Trump the worst president in American history.

Neither gave any vision for America's future or took the opportunity to lay out a plan of hope or strength for America, as has been common in past elections, perhaps leaving voters wondering what just happened and what to expect in a second second round. term for either.