The first presidential debate of 2024 resulted in what many believe was a clear winner and loser. President Joe Biden’s performance was universally panned, affecting his fundraising efforts and intensifying calls for his ousting. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, despite being criticized for his false claims during the debate, has kept a low profile, opting to keep the spotlight on the president.
Watch the above video as Straight Arrow News contributor Ruben Navarrette argues that both candidates lost the debate, though for different reasons. Navarrette says that while the president was “incoherent at times,” Trump was a rambling liar.
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Following is an excerpt from the above video:
The former president refused to own up to anything that he has previously said or done. It was like a whole new Trump had fallen from the sky and landed on the debate stage in Atlanta. A prime example of Trump’s convenient memory lapses came at that moment in the debate when CNN co-moderator Jake Tapper asked the candidate about how, when it comes to the explosive immigration issue, Trump had promised his followers that he will carry out “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.” Tapper asked whether that meant Trump was prepared to deport every undocumented immigrant, including those who have jobs, spouses who are U.S. citizens, and even those who’ve lived here for decades.
And if so, Tapper asked, how would Trump pull this off? Guess what? The likely Republican presidential candidate wanted no part of that question. Instead, Trump bobbed and weaved and meandered, and over the next few minutes, he touched on everything from fighting terrorism to combating crime to sealing the border to taking better care of our veterans.
Interested in different perspectives? Have a look at how our other contributors view this issue from across the political spectrum:
Star Parker: Debate disaster raises questions about Biden’s capacity to lead.
Jordan Reid: Despite poor debate performance, Biden deserves our support.
Dr. Rashad Richey: Americans deserve younger candidates, better ideas.