Biden-Trump Debate: A Clash of Personalities and a Barrage of Misinformation
The first presidential debate of the 2024 election between incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump lived up to its billing as a high-stakes clash, showcasing both candidates’ strengths and weaknesses while providing a platform for a flurry of false and misleading claims. The 90-minute face-off, broadcast to a national television audience, offered a stark contrast in styles, with Biden leaning on his experience and policy knowledge, while Trump relied on his characteristic bombast, often veering into unsubstantiated territory. The debate covered a wide range of topics, from the January 6th Capitol attack to economic policy, healthcare, and climate change, with each candidate attempting to paint the other as unfit for the presidency.
One of the most contentious exchanges centered on the events of January 6th. Trump falsely downplayed the severity of the attack, describing it as a "relatively small number of people" who were "ushered in by the police." This claim directly contradicts extensive video evidence, photographic documentation, and eyewitness accounts depicting a violent mob overwhelming law enforcement and storming the Capitol. Trump also falsely claimed to have offered House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 10,000 National Guard troops, which she purportedly refused. Fact-checkers swiftly debunked this assertion, clarifying that Pelosi holds no authority over National Guard deployments and that she and then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell jointly requested military assistance once the attack was underway.
The debate also saw a series of misleading statements about economic policy. Trump claimed Biden planned to raise taxes "four times," a claim unsupported by Biden’s proposed budget, which primarily targets corporations and high earners while aiming to shield those earning under $400,000. Trump further falsely asserted that the US had the "lowest taxes ever" and "lowest regulations ever" on January 6th, 2021. Historical data refutes both claims, showing fluctuations in tax rates over time and a general upward trend in regulations alongside the country’s modernization.
On healthcare, Biden misrepresented the cost of insulin under the Inflation Reduction Act. While the Act capped out-of-pocket insulin costs for Medicare recipients at $35 and prompted some drugmakers to lower prices for those with private insurance, Biden’s claim that people previously paid up to $400 monthly is an exaggeration. Studies indicate average annual insulin costs were around $450 before the Act, significantly lower than Biden’s figure. Trump, meanwhile, continued his pattern of making inaccurate claims about abortion, alleging that Democrats support abortion "after birth." This is unequivocally false; infanticide is illegal in all states.
Climate change also featured prominently, with Trump touting his environmental record as "the best ever." This claim ignores his administration’s rollback of environmental regulations, withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, and dismissal of scientific consensus on climate change’s role in wildfires. Trump also falsely claimed Putin was demanding "billions and billions of dollars" for the release of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. There’s no evidence to support this claim, and hostage releases during both the Trump and Biden administrations have typically involved prisoner swaps, not financial transactions.
The candidates’ past records and statements also came under scrutiny. Biden overstated Trump’s comments about disinfectant as a COVID-19 treatment, claiming Trump told people to "inject bleach." While Trump’s April 2020 comments about disinfectant were widely criticized, he did not explicitly recommend injecting bleach. Trump, in turn, falsely attributed the term "super predator" to Biden, a term actually used by Hillary Clinton in the 1990s.
The debate further highlighted sharp disagreements on immigration. Trump falsely linked the influx of migrants at the southern border to increased crime, a claim contradicted by statistical data. While anecdotal instances of crimes committed by undocumented individuals exist, studies consistently show lower crime rates among this population compared to native-born Americans and legal immigrants. Trump also restated his unsubstantiated claim that other countries are intentionally sending criminals and mentally ill individuals to the U.S.
The candidates also offered differing interpretations of past events. Biden accurately quoted Trump’s "very fine people on both sides" comment about the Charlottesville white nationalist rally, though Trump maintains he was not referring to neo-Nazis and white supremacists. Biden also misstated the results of a presidential historian survey rating Trump as the worst president in history. While the survey did rank Trump poorly, Biden inflated the number of respondents and overstated the consensus. Trump, for his part, falsely claimed credit for deploying the National Guard during the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis, a decision actually made by Minnesota’s governor.
Finally, both candidates made inaccurate claims about their own records. Trump falsely asserted he presided over the "greatest economy in history," a claim challenged by the pandemic-induced recession during his term and superior economic growth under previous presidents. Biden, meanwhile, incorrectly stated that no U.S. troops had died in hostile action during his presidency, overlooking the 16 service members killed in Afghanistan and Jordan.
The debate served as a reminder of the deep divisions in American politics and the prevalence of misinformation in the 2024 campaign. While providing a platform for the candidates to present their visions for the country, the event was also marked by a significant amount of factual inaccuracy, necessitating careful scrutiny by voters and the media alike. The clash underscored the importance of fact-checking and critical thinking in navigating the complexities of the electoral process.