President Joe Biden had essentially one job coming into debate night against Donald Trump in Atlanta: To convince Americans that he is healthy and energetic enough at 81 to serve instead of his 78-year-old opponent. By that metric, it did not go very well.
Biden came out in his opening statement offering a message that his administration is driving an economy with millions of new jobs that is taking a bite out of inflation. He also reminded Americans of the many crises the nation was facing at the end of Trump’s administration, when the then-president was advising Americans to inject bleach as a COVID defense. But as Biden offered his pitch to voters, he sounded quite raspy, undermining the case that his campaign needs to make this year — that he has what it takes to lead the country for four more years.
According to NBC News, the president has a summer cold — though it’s a little unusual that the Biden team wouldn’t broadcast that until halfway through the debate:
Setting his arguments aside, Trump sounded fairly clear and concise — a surprise for those who have been paying attention to his rallies this month. Eventually, though, the old Trump made his ways known:
When asked later in the debate about his age, Biden said that he spent half his career as the youngest politician in Washington, D.C. — and half as the oldest. “This guy’s three years younger and a lot less competent,” Biden said of Trump.
When Trump was asked of his health he said: “We knock on wood wherever we may have wood that I’m in good health.” The two candidates then fell into a conversation about who is a better golfer. “Let’s not act like children,” Trump said.
