In a high-stakes confrontation, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump took the stage on Thursday, each aiming to sway the pivotal group of voters who disapprove of both candidates, known as the “double haters.” This group could play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2024 election.
Biden, at 81, entered the debate with a raspy voice, delivering disjointed and rambling responses that reignited concerns about his age. His uncertainty was deep when addressing the national debt, where he initially confused “billionaires” with “trillionaires” before correcting himself. This stumble was one of several during the evening that drew criticism from his Republican rival.
Trump seized the opportunity to highlight Biden’s perceived weaknesses, particularly focusing on his handling of tax policy and healthcare funding. When Biden, during a discussion on national debt, mistakenly said, “Look: we finally beat Medicare,” Trump quickly retorted, “He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death, and he’s destroying Medicare.”
Throughout the debate, Trump persistently deflected questions from moderators on critical issues like immigration, abortion, and foreign policy. He also avoided addressing the climate crisis and his past election denialism. Despite Trump’s evasions and falsehoods, Biden struggled to effectively capitalize on these vulnerabilities, often failing to deliver concise and coherent contradictions.
Trump further challenged Biden’s mental acuity, urging him to take a cognitive test. “I took two tests, cognitive tests. I aced them, both of them, as you know, we made it public. He took none. I’d like to see him take one, just one, a real easy one, like go through the first five questions. He couldn’t do it,” Trump claimed.
For many Americans, this debate reinforced their existing concerns: Biden appeared too old for a second term, while Trump seemed too chaotic to return to the presidency. The “double haters” likely walked away from the debate with a more visceral understanding of why they find both candidates unappealing.