Trump-Biden debate: Little new insight into policy goals

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Last updated: Friday, June 28, 2024 4:32AM GMT
President Debate spurs concerns over Biden's reelection chances
President Debate spurs concerns over Biden's reelection chancesIn a historic clash of personality and policy, Joe Biden and Donald Trump took the stage for the first presidential debate of the 2024 election.

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.

Jun 28, 2024, 1:48 AM

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

President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
ByMary Bruce and Molly Nagle ABCNews logo
Jun 28, 2024, 2:21 AM GMT

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.

President Joe Biden speaks during a presidential debate with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
President Joe Biden speaks during a presidential debate with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.

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.

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Jun 28, 2024, 2:14 AM GMT

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.

Jun 28, 2024, 2:13 AM GMT

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

Former President Donald Trump was convicted Thursday in his New York hush money trial.

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.

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Jun 28, 2024, 2:03 AM GMT

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.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump during a presidential debate with President Joe Biden, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump during a presidential debate with President Joe Biden, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.

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.