Trump and Biden debate live updates: Follow all the action in real time from the first presidential showdown on CNN

Biden gave a meandering answer with an awkward pause just 12 minutes into the debate.

He was responding to a question about the debt.

He had the largest national debt of any president in a four year period, number one,’ Biden began. Then he said there were 1,000 trillionaires in the country, quickly correcting himself to say billionaires, and ended with an attack on Trump on Medicare, with a pause as his time was running up.

Trump picked up on the health issue. ‘He’s right he did beat Medicare – he beat it to death,’ Trump said.

Donald Trump slammed Biden for not knowing his own border policies.

Biden touted his efforts to secure a bipartisan border deal that fell apart in Congress when asked about his attempts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump immediately retorted after a bumbling answer from Biden, saying ‘I really don’t know what he said there at the end of that answer.’

‘I don’t think he does either,’ Trump continued.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Atlanta, Georgia

Biden brought up the report that Trump did not want to go to the WWI cemetery that Biden recently visited in France and allegedly called the dead soldiers ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’ when asked about veterans.

‘You’re the sucker, you’re the loser,’ Biden says looking at Trump.

Trump denies the report which came from The Atlantic.

President Biden says he is the only president that ‘doesn’t have any troops dying’ across the world, and viewers were quick to point out on X that 13 U.S. troops died in the frenzied U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

‘The truth is, I’m the only president the century that doesn’t have any, this decade didn’t have any troops dying anywhere in the world, like he did,’ Biden said.

Trump shot back: ‘As far as Afghanistan is concerned, getting out of Afghanistan, we were getting out with dignity, with strength, with power. He got out, it was the most embarrassing day in the history of our country’s life.’

Some snap analysis from Joe Alder, senior research associate at JL Partners, DailyMail.com’s pollster:

On the economy, Joe Biden quickly turned the conversation onto Donald Trump’s record. It’s unclear if that is wise given many voters’ main association with the Trump premiership is a stronger economy. Biden did identify stronger territory on Trump’s much more controversial record of tax cuts – but Biden may need a more spirited defence of his own record.

It is crucial for Biden that he keep the conversation on abortion – a key area of Democrat strength with swing voters and one with the potential to energize his base. What’s more, this is a rare issue where Trump feels the need to prevaricate, while Biden can paint a clear dividing line.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Atlanta, Georgia

The moderators ask Trump and Biden about abortion which is one of the biggest issues of the 2024 election after Roe v Wade was overturned.

‘It’s a terrible thing what you’ve done,’ says Biden slamming Trump on the issue.

Trump praised the overturning of Roe saying the decision by the Supreme Court took the issue ‘back to the voters.’

Biden said he supports Roe v Wade when it comes to limits on when a woman can get an abortion.

Trump claimed falsely that Democrats want to rip babies out at nine months.

‘We are not for late-term abortion. Period, period,’ Biden responds. He points out Roe was in place for 51 years.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Atlanta, Georgia

Biden appeared to want to respond to Trump when he slammed the president on social security, but his mic was not on.

This could be a challange for Biden of his campaign’s own making since it was his team that made the request for mics to be muted when it’s not their turn.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Atlanta, Georgia

CNN moderators opened Thursday’s debate by asking President Joe Biden to defend his economic record.

Voters say the economy and inflation are their No. 1 issue when casting their ballot in November’s election – and critics claim they were better off under former President Donald Trump than under Biden.

Host Dana Bash kicked off the showdown with throwing the question to Biden, which he replied to with his first gaffe of the night.

What I’m going to do is fix the tax system. For example, we have a thousand trillionaires in America – I mean billionaires in America. And what’s happening? They’re in a situation where they in fact pay 8.2 percent in taxes. If they just paid 24 percent, 25 percent – either of those numbers – they’d raise $500 million – billion.

After Biden then slammed Trump’s spending during the early days of COVID, the former president defended himself:

Everything was rocking good but the thing we never got the credit for – and we should have – is getting inside of that COVID mess.

From Rob Crilly, Chief U.S. Political Correspondent

The first question goes to Biden, who is asked about rising prices and inflation. His response makes clear that he knows what his task is tonight: Prevent this from becoming a referendum on his record and instead remind viewers of Trump’s time in office.

We got to take a look at what I was left when I became president, what Mr Trump left me. We had an economy that was in free fall. The pandemic was so badly handled, many people were dying.

If the debate and the election is about Biden’s record he is in big trouble.

The two candidates both agreed to the rules CNN sent to their campaigns in May.

Part of that agreement was allowing microphones to be muted when the other candidate is speaking, a departure from previous debates.

It is an attempt to avoid crosstalk and interruptions.

Additionally, there will be no studio audience, another change from previous events.

No props or pre-written notes will be allowed onto the stage, but candidates will be provided a pad of paper, pen and water bottle.

A coin toss was won by Biden’s campaign after they picked tails,

It meant the president’s team got to decide whether they wanted to choose the podium position, or who got the final word.

The campaign decided to select the stage arrangement and put Biden on the right podium.

That also means that rival Trump will get the final word of the night and deliver his closing statement last.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

President Biden and Donald Trump take the stage for their make-or-break first debate of the 2024 campaign.

It’s the first debate ever between two presidential candidates who have both served as president and comes much earlier in an election year than general election debates ever have before.

Trump is on the left and Biden is on the right as decided by a coin toss.

Biden is wearing a blue tie. Trump is wearing a red tie.

They did not shake hands when they entered, instead taking their places behind their podiums.

Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

When Donald Trump landed in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon, Melania Trump was not seen getting exiting Trump Force One.

It’s a mystery if the former first lady will appear at the first presidential debate.

Her office did not respond to multiple inquiries on the subject.

Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

President Joe Biden mocked Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated allegation he’ll take performance enhancing drugs ahead of the debate by posting a photo of himself – drinking a can of water.

‘I don’t know what they’ve got in these performance enhancers, but I’m feeling pretty jacked up. Try it yourselves, folks,’ he wrote on his X account.

The post includes a link to the Biden campaign store where a can of ‘Dark Brandon’s Secret Sauce’ sells for $4.60. ‘Get Real Jack. It’s just water,’ the can reads.

The ingredients on the back include: MAGA tears, mysterious orange liquid, and melted chocolate chip ice cream.

‘The secret to a good debate performance? Staying hydrated. Get yourself the same performance enhancers Joe Biden took before going on stage. 100% water, 0% malarkey,’ the description reads.

Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

A majority of Donald Trump vice presidential contenders appeared together in a group photo in Atlanta as they head to the presidential debate.

Posted by Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York – a favorite of the former president’s – the gang of politicians are grinning at the camera, giving a thumbs’ up (which is a signature Trump move).

Stefanik is said to be on Trump’s list of contenders as are Sens. Tim Scott, J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio and Ben Carson – all of whom are in the picture. Other notable Trump supporters seen in the shot are Sens. Lindsey Graham, Marsha Blackburn, and Markwayne Mullin, and former Sen. Kelly Loeffler.

There are other contenders at the debate site (but not in the photo Stefanik posted): North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Trump has teased he already knows who he is picking and that person would join him in Atlanta. He has not formally announced his running mate.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told CNN:

So the weaponization of these clips, it was ridiculous.

That’s for hours and hours on the photo line with President Obama. He had just found back from the G7…he had barely slept. No one could have kept that schedule.

He did a wonderful job in private with all the donors, with surrogates, did an amazing job on stage.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not qualify for the debate.

Instead, he will be hosting his own event on X.

To qualify for the debate CNN required candidates to reach 15 percent in four reliable polls and be on the ballot in enough states to win the presidency. Kennedy fell short.

He has accused CNN of colluding with Biden and Trump, has complained to the Federal Election Commission, and threatening to sue.

Kennedy may not be there but his supporters have a visible presence on the streets around the debate hall in Atlanta.

Some set up a lemonade stand a few blocks from the spin room where the press was gathered.

A sign on top of the stand read ‘CNN Lemons = Kennedy Lemonade’.

Not far away, a Kennedy campaign bus blasted music.

Emily Goodin, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

President Joe Biden’s campaign used the lead up to the presidential debate to have one its best fundraising periods to date.

The 6-7pm hour was the best grassroots fundraising hour of the campaign, a Biden campaign official said, besting the 5-6pm hour which was the prior record.

Republican strategist Scott Jennings said the stakes could not be higher for President Biden ahead of the debate.

‘We cannot understand the importance of this moment for one person, and that’s Joe Biden,’ said Jennings. ‘His campaign is teetering on the brink of going away right now.’

He pointed to the polling and said ‘the image is bad.’

‘Democrats are nervous. They know he is losing,’ Jennings said. ‘The reason we’re having this debate is the Biden campaign knows it must change the trajectory. Anything short of a game-changing moment for Biden tonight is a loss for him and a win for Donald Trump.’

Jennings said all Trump has to do is show up and look like a plausible president, and it’s a win for him.

Former Obama advisor Dabid Axelrod warned Joe Biden not to brag about his record during the debate with Donald Trump on Thursday night.

The Democrat who has scrutinized Joe’s re-election bid said he will ‘lose the debate and he may lose the election’ if he repeatedly brings up what he has accomplished since he entered office.

Many Americans don’t agree with his case that he has a great record. Most think prices are still high, are concerned with the border and have been critical of his stance in the Gaza war.

Axelrod didn’t mince his words when he gave the 81-year-old president some advice while appearing on CNN.

I actually admire the president’s record, but if he spends the whole night extolling his own record and it doesn’t take the case to Trump, he will lose this debate and he may lose this election.

Joe Biden was hit by a devastating new poll from Gallup on the day of the debate, showing his approval rating at 37 percent.

That is the lowest level Gallup has recorded for Biden since 2007 – when he was a U.S. Senator, and before he was president or vice president.

In a further blow a stunning 56 percent of Democrats told Gallup they would prefer another candidate to Biden.

There was also a massive 37-point ‘enthusiasm gap’ with only 42 percent of Democrats saying they were pleased with Biden as their nominee, while 79 percent of Republicans were pleased with having Trump as theirs.

Democrat enthusiasm for Biden is significantly less than it was for Hillary Clinton in 2016 when 64 percent were pleased with her as their candidate.

Gallup took its poll between June 3 and June 23, starting shortly after Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush money trial in New York.

From Rob Crilly, Chief U.S. Political Correspondent

There’s a new rule for this debate, muting microphones for each candidate when it is not their turn to speak.

The conventional thinking is that the new rule is good for Biden, protecting him from being steamrollered by Trump’s heckles.

That’s not how I see it. Biden won their first debate in 2020 largely by standing by as Trump ranted and raved, His best moment was when he spoke for much of the audience by interjecting: ‘Will you shut up man.’

If Trump’s microphone is shut off when it is not his turn to answer a question, there is less chance of him shooting himself in the foot.

From Rob Crilly, Chief U.S. Political Correspondent

There is plenty to watch for tonight. But the first telltale sign of who’s on top could come as the two candidates are introduced. Will they shake hands?

Both sides have been debating the best approach. Team Trump is focused on showing that their man has the physical edge over his opponent. So why not have him stride to Biden and grip his hand with presidential intent?

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and other hardliners don’t like that idea. As he said on his show earlier:

Joe Biden is not the legitimate president of the United States. You should only shake hands with the legitimate president of the United States. He’s not it.

There is a similar feeling in camp Biden. Why legitimize a man who tried to bend the Constitution to hang on to power after losing the 2020 election?

Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

First Lady Jill Biden reassured top Biden donors that her husband is ready for the debate.

‘Joe’s ready to go. He’s prepared. He’s confident,’ she told them on Thursday afternoon. ‘You know what a great debater he is.’

After her arrival in Atlanta for the first presidential debate, the first lady
stopped by the Biden Victory Fund, National Finance Committee Summer Retreat, which was taking place in the city.

She will watch the debate from a holding room at CNN – no audience is allowed in the auditorium.

President Biden has had a huge ad spending advantage ahead of first general election presidential debate when millions are expected to tune in for the primetime showdown.

Biden has seen nearly $150 million in ad support between Super Tuesday and the first debate night according to tracking by Ad Impact.

At the same time, Trump has seen $36.5 million during that same timeframe.

Biden has had a massive cash advantage over Trump for months leading up to them officially clinching the necessary delegates to be the nominees, but in recent months Trump has seen a fundraising surge that has helped him erase Biden’s cash advantage.

By Nikki Schwab, Senior U.s. Political Reporter in Atlanta, Georgia

CNN anchor Chris Wallace answered ‘sure’ when asked by DailyMail.com in the spin room if he’d be open to moderating a future presidential debate.

Wallace famously had to referee the chaotic 2020 Cleveland debate between President Donald Trump and then Democratic nominee Joe Biden that was mired by interruptions and insults.

The longtime Fox News Sunday host repeatedly had to scold Trump and Biden to stop going after each other and answer his questions.

It was the first of two times Trump and Biden met on the debate stage four years ago – as a second debate was cancelled in the aftermath of the Republican contracting COVID-19.

Asked if he was happy he didn’t have to moderate tonight’s affair – CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are handling that task – Wallace answered, ‘No, not particuarly,’ and then laughed.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Atlanta, Georgia and Jon Michael Raasch, Political Reporter in Atlanta, Georgia

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told DailyMail.com that suggestions President Joe Biden won’t be the Democratic nominee in 2024 is an effort from the pro-MAGA world to ‘distract’ from real issues.

The Biden surrogate told DailyMail.com ahead of Thursday’s debate in the CNN spin room in Atlanta, Georgia, of the premise that he could be swapped in as the Democratic nominee in November:

It’s a non sequitur. I don’t even understand the context of that. This is a President of the United States running for reelection. He’s our guy.

And that’s part of the diversion tactic of the right – to continue to sort of muddy the waters on all of that and that nonsensical speculation. It’s just like the absurdity of who’s going to get an injection shot. I mean this is farcical.

It’s serious stuff – democracy, freedom, liberty, rights. And to see it trivialized as we’re trivializing it even having these conversations is really distressing to me as an American citizen, not just as a Democrat.

Democratic strategist James Carville was Bill Clinton’s campaign guru in 1992, and famously popularized the prhase ‘It’s the economy, stupid’.

Carville has a suggestion for how Joe biden, 81, should deal with the issue of his age in the debate.

According to Carville, now 79, the president should say:

It’s no doubt that I’ll be 82. By the way, I want to wish my opponent Happy Birthday. He recently made 78!

Carville also told NBC News:

There are certain rules that they always forget. The camera is always f***ing on you. Don’t grimace, don’t wince, don’t shake your head.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden are not popular in one of Georgia’s richest suburbs heading into the first presidential debate.

Buckhead, a ritzy neighborhood in north Atlanta, is full of expensive shopping malls and glassy high-rise apartments humming with locals.

Atlanta is set to host the first presidential debate Thursday evening at 9 p.m. ET, but Buckhead residents tell DailyMail.com they don’t care about the event – or the candidates.

‘I hate to say it, but I don’t think I’m on either side,’ Kira told DailyMail.com when asked about who she was backing before the debate. ‘I think they just forgot about the people, and we’re just really struggling out here.’

From Rob Crilly, Chief U.S. Political Correspondent

Senior Biden officials are convinced that the American public has yet to get its head around one simple fact: Donald Trump could return to the White House.

They believe most voters haven’t been paying attention to the election and have yet to register the choice they’ll face in November. And when they do, the ‘don’t knows’ and the RFK Jr supporters will come back to the coalition that won them victory in 2020.

That’s why they were so keen for a June debate, the earliest in history.

So in a sense they already have what they need from the debate: 90 minutes of prime time to remind voters of the chaos and upheaval of the Trump years, and to make clear that he is really, actually, definitely going to be on the ballot in November.

Donald Trump’s motorcade is on its way to CNN for the first presidential debate having arrived earlier in Atlanta.

Tonight marks the first time President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will be in the same room in nearly four years.

DailyMail.com has put together a BINGO card using some of the insults the two candidates have flung at each other in recent weeks on the campaign trail.

Biden has repeatedly said Trump became ‘unhinged’ after losing the 2020 election, while Trump has hinted that he believes Biden will be on ‘cocaine’ during the 90-minute-long showdown.

A free space is reserved for when either candidate makes a gaffe.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both arrived in Atlanta for their crunch debate.

Trump gave a clenched fist sign as he disembarked his plane.

His allies have claimed Biden will be pumped full of performance-enhancing drugs so he can make it through the 90-minute debate.

Biden and Trump enter the night facing fierce political headwinds with both disliked by a majority of Americans, according to polling.

They offer sharply different visions on virtually every issue.

Trump has promised sweeping plans to remake the U.S. government if he returns to the White House.

Biden argues that his opponent would pose an existential threat to the nation’s democracy if he wins.