The first of two planned presidential debates between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump Thursday night left Americans across the country with many questions.
The CNN-hosted live event was the first general election debate without an in-person audience since 1960, according to the New York Times, and it was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Users took to the social media platform X during and after the debate, sharing play-by-play and reactions to the slew of hot topics Biden and Trump discussed.
These dudes have been calling each other the worst President in history for 80 straight minutes — and neither one of them got really offended until their golf skills were questioned. Hahaha.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) June 28, 2024
pic.twitter.com/mFEI25Djh7
One candidate had a bad debate performance while fighting through a cold.
— Zac Petkanas (@Zac_Petkanas) June 28, 2024
The other had 34 felony convictions and bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade.
Priorities, people. #Debate2024
"He's become a Palestinian...a weak one"
— AHMED | أحمد (@ASE) June 28, 2024
The way the word Palestinian is only mentioned by in the #debate2024 as an insult equivalent to the N word, tells you all you need to know about this disgraceful election and empire.
Democrats expressed their concern for Biden as the nominee in light of his performance.
NBC just reported a democratic source said "it's over" lmao
— you will never regret liking this post (@lib_crusher) June 28, 2024
Literally nothing will stop me from voting for Biden or whoever the Dem candidate might be in November. Not one debate. Not a stutter. Not a frail moment.
— Rebecca (@Bec_Shrader) June 28, 2024
Trump is dangerous and I mean that in the most literal way possible. #Debate2024 #VoteBlue2024ProtectDemocracy
My last reflection over this #Debate2024. I am feeling angry and sad. Biden shouldn’t have run plain and simple. It’s selfishness and all I can think about now is how this could impact my immigrant family, women in my life, the LGBTQ and the future. It feels like 2016 again.
— summer cesar ???? (@WhatsUpGuysItsC) June 28, 2024
The words Biden is saying don’t matter much because of his mode of delivery. The whispery voice. The cough. The blank stare. The meandering, weak answers. @DNC, everything is on the line. You must nominate someone else because too much is at stake.
— Kaye (@KayeSteinsapir) June 28, 2024
the dnc pic.twitter.com/R1Zks09GMi
— maurice (@tallmaurice) June 28, 2024
Many people said they are worried — and even embarrassed — for the United States as a whole after the debate.
“I didn’t have sex with a porn star”
— Emily Giangreco (@EmilyGiangreco) June 28, 2024
This is a sentence that was just said in America’s PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.
We should ALL be embarrassed.
welp... pic.twitter.com/IWE11s0V7T
— nikki mccann ramírez (@NikkiMcR) June 28, 2024
ok if you don't live in the US, please turn the debate off. This is our private family humiliation, and we'd all prefer you not stare.
— Ginny Hogan_ (@ginnyhogan_) June 28, 2024
"we're the most admired country in the world" #Debate2024 pic.twitter.com/ilXLIc4Z5p
— strawberry soda activist (@hourlyvivi) June 28, 2024
I literally watched only 3min of two old men who I wouldn’t trust to watch my damn cat argue back and forth to convince us why they would be the better candidate to run this country. One is mentally unstable and the other is mentally not even here. #debate2024 pic.twitter.com/wdXKWFK8Ir
— Casey ???? (@theveganearper) June 28, 2024
Other users tuned in to alternatives or didn’t tune in at all. Some said they would prefer different presidential candidates, with jokes circulating on X.
If that debate wasn't insane enough for you, RFK Jr. spent the evening doing a competing live stream where he spliced himself into the feed and took separate questions from a guy that looks like he killed a moderator and stole his clothes pic.twitter.com/AQHAnjIRmi
— catturd2.bsky.social (@thetomzone) June 28, 2024
I like both candidates but I think we need somebody older
— Cody (@AltHistCody) June 28, 2024
what we need up there right now is a professional yapper, someone tap her in pic.twitter.com/BwJAamwTj0
— reid (@thereidfeed) June 28, 2024
This is really our options for president #Debate2024 pic.twitter.com/yDm4Fm8FoL
— Kimmy???? (@cheesykimms) June 28, 2024
For the first time ever, the presidential debate offers no sane choice: one candidate is a convicted criminal, the other a demented genocide sponsor. Our democracy is in crisis.#DebateNight #Debate2024 #PresidentialDebate2024 pic.twitter.com/YhPh0Tc5Nu
— Eyewitness (@iWitnessUpdate) June 28, 2024
