Reactions On Biden-Trump Debate: This Is A “Disaster”
In the aftermath of the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, reactions have been swift and varied, reflecting the polarized nature of the current political climate. The debate has sparked discussions across the political spectrum, with prominent figures from both parties weighing in on the candidates’ performances.
Democrats
Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the contrast between Biden and Trump on key issues. “Listen, first of all, what we saw tonight is the president making a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all the issues that matter to the American people,” she stated. Harris acknowledged Biden “was a slow start, but it was a strong finish.” She reiterated the importance of the upcoming election, describing it as “one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime.”
In an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Harris reiterated her view, saying, “What we had in Joe Biden is someone who wanted to have a debate based on facts, based on truths, and in Donald Trump, we have what we’ve come to expect, which is someone who is going to push lies and distract from the reality of the damage he has created and continues to create in our country.”
Harris seemed annoyed by the focus on Biden’s performance, telling CNN’s Anderson Cooper, “I got that this is the after play for the debate, this conversation that I’m in, and I understand why everyone wants to talk about it.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed pride in Biden’s performance. “Tonight I think Joe Biden not only asserted himself, he reminded people of his accomplishments and his vision for the future,” Newsom told reporters.
He dismissed concerns within the Democratic Party, arguing that panic is “unhelpful” and “unnecessary.” Newsom stressed the need for party unity, saying, “We’ve got to have the back of this president. You don’t turn back because of one performance.” He further defended Biden during an interview on MSNBC, stating, “This president has delivered. We need to deliver for him.”
Biden’s campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, praised the president’s performance, describing it as presenting “a positive and winning vision for the future of America.” In contrast, she characterized Trump’s approach as offering “a dark and backwards window into what America will look like if he steps foot back in the White House.”
Mitch Landrieu, Biden’s campaign co-chair, described the debate as a “bare-knuckled brawl.” He acknowledged Biden’s slow start but emphasized that the president was right on the substance. “When you get into the substance of what was said, I think the takeaway from this was that Joe Biden was right on the substance. He told the truth,” Landrieu said on NBC News.
Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock also defended Biden, citing the president’s record of passing historic legislation. “I would be concerned if the president didn’t have a record to run on, but the fact of the matter is this is a man who’s passed historic legislation,” Warnock said after the debate.
Despite these positive assessments, some high-profile Democratic donors expressed deep concern. According to Politico, one major donor described Biden’s performance as “the worst performance in history,” suggesting it could lead to calls for a brokered convention. The donor speculated that Democratic governors like Andy Beshear or Gavin Newsom could be potential alternatives if Biden were to step aside.
“There is no way to spin this. His performance was disqualifying. There is going to be a call for a brokered convention. Whitmer, Pritzker, Newsom, Beshear. Those could all be the options. It’s inevitable,” the donor stated. The donor added that it would likely come down to Jill Biden to convince him. “He (Biden) is a stubborn guy… It cannot be described how bad this performance was,” they added.
In Georgia, state Rep. Billy Mitchell expressed confidence in Biden despite the criticism, saying, “The bar was set so low by his opponent that he certainly exceeded that. The reality is we love Joe Biden because of where his heart is, despite if he looked like he had a cold here and there.”
Former Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro criticized Biden’s debate performance in a post on X, saying, “Biden had a very low bar going into the debate and failed to clear even that bar. He seemed unprepared, lost, and not strong enough to parry effectively with Trump, who lies constantly.”
Republicans
On the Republican side, former candidate Nikki Haley reiterated her belief that Biden will not be the Democratic nominee in 2024, citing his age and performance issues. “Mark my words… Biden will not be the Democrat nominee,” Haley said on X (fka Twitter). Haley repeatedly said during her own presidential campaign that Biden would not end up representing his party in this year’s election, making critiques of the president’s age and her perceptions of his stumbles in office.
Trump’s senior adviser, Chris LaCivita, called the debate “the most lopsided win in debate history” and dismissed suggestions that Biden might step down. “The only way that happens is if Joe Biden voluntarily steps down, and he’s not going to do that,” LaCivita said. LaCivita also remarked on Trump’s debate performance, describing it as “added rocket fuel” for Trump’s upcoming visit to Virginia. He mentioned that Minnesota, another state Trump has lost twice, could also be in play. “We’re on offense, make no mistake about it,” LaCivita said.
Vivek Ramaswamy, another former GOP hopeful, claimed Trump won the debate “hands down” and suggested that Biden’s performance could be a national security threat due to perceived weakness. Ramaswamy also asserted that Trump showed more energy than Biden, portraying the president as vulnerable and unable to finish his term.
Lauren Boebert, who recently won Colorado’s 4th district, took to social media to express her frustration with Biden’s debate conduct. “The media tries to say Trump is unhinged but Biden just started screaming at Trump and called him a ‘sucker and loser’. This is ridiculous,” Boebert posted.
Voters
Voter reactions in swing states were mixed. In Wisconsin, Dan Olszewski, a self-proclaimed socially liberal and fiscally conservative Republican, called Biden’s performance “an unmitigated disaster.” However, he maintained his intention to vote for Biden, seeing him as a better option than Trump. “Doesn’t change my perspective since inept is better than evil but not sure how it can help any undecided go toward Biden,” Olszewski told ABC News.
In North Carolina, opinions were divided at both Biden and Trump watch parties, with some voters expressing concern over Biden’s age and debate performance, while others felt he demonstrated strong policy points. At a watch party organized by the Biden campaign, Garrett Warner commented on Biden’s age but noted several strong moments.
“It’s obvious he’s old. He’s over 80 and that’s obvious throughout the debate. However, he’s had several amazing moments,” Warner said.
Meanwhile, River Collins at a GOP watch party praised Trump for his discipline and articulation. “You see how articulate he is. He’s very disciplined. President Biden is all over the place,” Collins remarked.
Shannon Flemming, a Biden supporter, told ABC News, “I can tell he’s being very careful with how he speaks and some people might interpret that as being feeble, but we have to remember he has a speech impediment, and therefore, take that into consideration.”
A group of undecided voters in Warren, Michigan, had mixed reactions to the debate. One woman expressed concern over Biden’s hesitancy, saying, “That’s somebody I don’t think that needs to lead our country.” Another voter appreciated Biden’s policy focus, contrasting it with Trump’s self-praise. “Whereas on the other side from (Donald) Trump, all I really heard was I’ve done this and it was the best ever, but I never heard what it was,” she said.
However, another voter voiced frustration with both candidates, suggesting a need for younger leadership.
In New Hampshire, Thaila Flores expressed disappointment and confusion over the debate, blaming both parties for the lack of substantive discussion. “The RNC and DNC are to blame for this,” Flores said. “All they are doing is arguing over who was the worst president. Biden can’t process his thoughts and Trump has not answered a question.”
Public figures
While Biden and Trump debated, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hosted his own event in Los Angeles, titled “The Real Debate.” Kennedy criticized CNN and both major parties for excluding him, saying, “This is something that’s important for our democracy because Americans feel like the system is rigged.” Aside from the livestreamed response to the debate, Kennedy has nothing on his public schedule for the coming weeks. Nor does his running mate, philanthropist Nicole Shanahan.
Celebrities also chimed in on social media. Bette Midler criticized Trump’s debate performance, tweeting, “Every word out of his mouth is a lie. Every single word.” Barbra Streisand defended Biden, tweeting, “Debates are not governing. They are about televised theatrics. Biden is accomplished at governing. He is experienced and has accomplished a great deal.”
Meghan McCain expressed her anxiety over the debate, tweeting, “This is the most stressful debate I’ve ever watched and my parent was a nominee against Obama.”
Stephen King criticized the debate’s presentation, posting, “The networks are packaging this as entertainment, like a boxing match, and selling democracy down the river. It’s a shame.” Mark Hamill kept his expectations low, posting, “Keeping my expectations low for this debate considering the highlight last time was ‘Will you shut up, man?!’”
Jon Stewart roasted both candidates’ performances, expressing frustration with the electoral choices. “The one thing that we did prove tonight is that MAGA conspiracy theory about Biden’s upcoming debate performance was nonsense,” Stewart said. He sarcastically suggested that both candidates could benefit from performance-enhancing drugs, criticizing their lucidity and problem-solving abilities.
“And if those drugs don’t exist, if there aren’t actual performance enhancing drugs for these candidates, I could sure fucking use some recreational ones right now. Because this cannot be real life! It just can’t! Fuck! We’re America!” Stewart said.
The CNN debate was the first of two general election debates, with the second scheduled to be hosted by ABC News on September 10.
Information for this briefing was found via AP News, CNN, Reuters, ABC, CBS, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
