Trump-Biden debate: Little new insight into policy goals
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in Thursday's presidential debate.
Hosted by CNN, it was the earliest-ever debate in a presidential race, taking place before the Republican and Democratic conventions in July and August -- when both Trump and Biden will officially accept their party's nominations.
Key Headlines
- Jun 28, 2024, 2:34 AM GMT
- Jun 28, 2024, 2:21 AM GMT
- Jun 28, 2024, 2:13 AM GMT
- Jun 28, 2024, 2:07 AM GMT
- Jun 28, 2024, 1:22 AM GMT
- Jun 27, 2024, 11:11 PM GMT
Fact-checking the first 2024 Presidential Debate
ABC News is fact-checking both Biden and Trump's claims in real time.
MORE | Fact-checking the first 2024 Presidential Debate between Donald Trump, Joe Biden
Biden has a cold, campaign says
An hour in and here is the Biden campaign spin on what so far has been a rocky performance by the president.
Biden has a cold (but tested negative for COVID-19), the campaign confirms. They haven't offered any explanation for why they didn't disclose this sooner.
Overall, the campaign says they are feeling fine. They agree it was a slow start but say he's found his groove.
Biden attacks Trump over scandals
Trump has made several comments about going after his political opponents and retribution. Asked to clarify what he meant, Trump replied, "Well, I said my retribution is going to be success."
He also contended that he's done nothing wrong despite his numerous criminal and civil cases.
Biden fired back contending that Trump's claims that he has the right to seek retribution is wrong. He then went after Trump over his various scandals.
"The crimes you are still charged with and think of all the civil penalties you have, how many billions of dollars ... and civil penalties? For molesting a woman in public for doing a whole range of things ... having sex with a porn star ... while your wife was pregnant? What would you be talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat," Biden said.
Biden calls Trump a 'convicted felon' and Trump brings up Hunter
Almost 45 minutes into the debate, President Joe Biden finally referenced former President Donald Trump's recent felony conviction in New York.
During a discussion about the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, Biden said: "The only person on this stage that's a convicted felon is the man I'm looking at right now," referring to Trump.
538 ANALYSIS | How Trump's guilty verdict will impact the 2024 presidential election
Trump then sought to pivot from his own legal troubles by referring to Biden's son, Hunter, as a "convicted felon."
He was referencing the younger Biden's felony conviction this month on three firearms charges. Trump also repeated long-running claims related to the Bidens and Ukraine, a frequent attack point for Republicans.
The first half hour
In first half hour of debate, a raspy Joe Biden has delivered rambling answers that sometimes trail off as he defends his policies and record.
Donald Trump has countered with falsehoods on issues including the economy, abortion and NATO members' defense spending.
The two have also exchanged deeply personal attacks.
