The debate featured personal attacks and clashes over international policy, economic claims and ethical critiques.
Biden and Trump discussed inflation, foreign relations and national concerns, with Biden struggling to counter Trump's unsubstantiated claims, according to analysts.
Biden vs. Trump: debate takeaways
The first presidential debate before the fall elections in the United States did not go well for the Democrats, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
According to a CNN poll cited by PolskieRadio24.pl, 67 percent of respondents believed that the Republican candidate, former president Donald Trump, won the debate.
Democrat Joe Biden, the incumbent president, garnered the support of 33 percent of those surveyed.
During the 90-minute debate, the candidates sparred over the economy, abortion and a range of other topics, including inflation, foreign relations and national issues.
Despite Trump bombarding his opponent with fake news and unconfirmed information, Biden was unable to effectively refute these claims, Polish political analysts said.
Clash over international policy, global risks
The two politicians differed on international issues. Trump claimed that Biden "will drive the US into World War III."
In response, the Democratic leader countered that Trump's stance and overt approval of Russia's annexation of Ukraine were directly leading towards a global conflict.
According to Biden, the United States has managed to avoid a major world conflict through its involvement in aiding the victims of Putin's aggression.
"Go ahead, let Putin go in and control Ukraine, and then move on to Poland and other places. See what happens then. He has no idea what the hell he's talking about," Biden said of Trump.
Claims and facts
Biden and Trump kicked off the debate by slamming each other's records on the economy.
Trump claimed that when he was president "we had the greatest economy in the history of our country."
Fact-checkers from cnbcnews.com said this statement was false.
Meanwhile, Biden said that 40 percent fewer people were now crossing the US border illegally, better than when Trump was in office. According to CBS News, this claim is only partially true.
Age and capability
During the debate in Atlanta, Georgia, both candidates had to address concerns from voters about their age and capability to serve.
The 81-year-old Biden frequently attacked Trump, seemingly trying to provoke him by mentioning everything from the former president’s recent felony conviction to his alleged insults toward World War I veterans and his weight.
The 78-year-old Trump, meanwhile, avoided clearly stating he would accept the results of the November election, continued to spread conspiracy theories about his previous loss that led to the attack on the Capitol, and often misrepresented his record in office, according to political commentators.
'The morals of an alley cat'
The debate was full of personal animosity. Biden criticized Trump, saying the former president has "the morals of an alley cat" due to his numerous criminal felonies and a scandal involving an adult film actress.
According to the Associated Press, Biden arrived with a raspy voice and sometimes "mumbled, got tongue-tied or lost his train of thought."
Meanwhile, Trump spoke with force but with plenty of falsehoods, the AP reported.
(mp/gs)
Source: polskieradio24.pl/CNN/AP/cbsnews.com