The first debate between incumbent president, Joe Biden and his challenger, former president Donald Trump has been a disappointing one (Express View)
Over the last many decades, the US presidential debate has emerged as the gold standard for intense political argument at the highest levels during elections in democratic societies. By that exalted standard, the first debate between incumbent president, Joe Biden and his challenger, former president Donald Trump has been a disappointing one. Part of the reason was the debate’s format. To avoid disorderly interventions, CNN chose to mute the microphones of the candidate going beyond his stipulated time and interjecting when the other was speaking. CNN also did away with the live studio. As a result, the “debate” was more like a press conference with each side making its points, irrespective of the question asked, and taking regular potshots at the other. The two ageing old White men have not, in any case, enthused the American electorate.
The expectations of success for either candidate were also rather low. Trump’s supporters were pressing him to be less aggressive and more agreeable; Biden’s were hoping that the President will dispel concerns about his age – at 81 he is the oldest president in the history of the United States. By those metrics at least Trump, 78, appears to have come out better. Although the fact checkers are having trouble with many of his claims, Trump was restrained and looked vigorous in contrast to the incumbent. Biden’s supporters have become despondent with the president’s lack of energy and focus. Biden’s several stumbles during the 90 minute standoff have triggered speculation that Democrats might want to replace him as their presidential candidate. While this might be easier said than done, the debate that was to lift Biden’s fortunes has cast a dark shadow not only over his own candidacy but also the prospects for the Democratic Party as a whole during the election. A third of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives is up for re-election in November.
What happens in America, of course, does not stay within America. Given the global salience of the US policies, America’s friends and rivals alike are playing close attention to US elections and the arguments between Biden and Trump. Foreign policy did not figure too prominently in the debate that was focused on domestic issues such as economy, inflation, social security, illegal immigration, and abortion rights. To the extent they did, both Biden and Trump were strong in their support for Israel and tough on China. Trump accused Biden of mismanaging the crisis in Ukraine and promised to settle the issue in the few weeks between the election in the first week of November and the swearing in during the third week of January 2025. Delhi believes that India will face no major challenge from the potential change of political guard at the White House. After all, India has seen its relations grow under both the presidents. As Republicans gain an edge over Democrats after the first debate, Delhi must, however, prepare itself for a more muscular and utterly transactional Washington in the second term of President Trump.
