U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, gathered for the first general election debate of the 2024 campaign, an opportunity for the candidates to redefine the political narrative and persuade undecided voters.
The CNN-hosted 90-minute discussion took place on Thursday in Atlanta. Americans with opposing views on the nation's most critical issues gathered at watch parties across the country.
According to CNN: “The presidential debate sent shockwaves through Joe Biden’s campaign as the president gave a shaky performance. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s performance gave his campaign and allies a boost of enthusiasm.”
As the Biden team cleans up, staffers say he will still participate in the September debate.
Nielsen statistics show that 51.27 million people watched the debate on television.
Here’s how America reacted to the elections:
U.S.: America reacts to the first Biden-Trump presidential election debate 2024
