President Biden and Former President Trump took center stage at CNN Studios in Atlanta to orate their plans for the country should they win in November.
The highly anticipated presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump took place on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia, inside the CNN Studios.
The debate was moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, both professionals in the field of American Politics and Journalism. This was the first time a sitting and former president had debated in a presidential election in American History.
The debate began with a focus on the economy. Biden highlighted his administration’s achievements in reducing unemployment and boosting investment in infrastructure, while Trump criticized Biden’s handling of inflation and boasted about his economic policies, specifically his deregulation and tax cuts for large businesses.
On Social Security, Biden pledged to protect benefits without raising taxes for those making less than $400,000 annually and accused Trump of planning cuts.
Trump emphasized his economic track recordbut did not provide specific plans for Social Security, instead blaming Biden’s immigration policies for harming the program.
The debate grew heated when discussing democracy, the January 6th Capitol attack and Trump’s legal history.
Trump denied responsibility for the Capitol attack, while Biden accused him of inciting the riot and failing to act to stop it. Biden also highlighted Trump’s various legal troubles, which included his civil lawsuits with Stormi Daniels, a porn star he had an affair with. He was later found to have used funds from his 2016 presidential campaign to pay her hush money.
Foreign policy discussions included Ukraine and the war in Gaza. Former President Trump claimed he could have ended the Ukraine war without specifics and criticized Biden’s stance on Israel and Gaza. President Biden denounced Russia’s actions in Ukraine and proposed a ceasefire deal for Gaza, blaming Hamas for refusing to cooperate.
On the topic of abortion, Biden refuted Trump’s claim that Roe v. Wade led to morally wrong abortions, stressing that most abortions past nine weeks occur in life-threatening situations. Trump highlighted his role in overturning Roe v. Wade but assured he wouldn’t block access to abortion medication, leaving that to the states.
Both candidates made their final appeals, with Trump emphasizing his achievements in rebuilding the military and deregulating business, and Biden focused on tax fairness and economic recovery.
