The political spotlight will shine intensely on President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump as they engage in their first debate on Thursday, June 27.
This marks the beginning of two critical debates ahead of the fiercely contested US presidential election on November 5.
The 90-minute debate will cover a range of pressing issues, including immigration, inflation, abortion rights, and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Both candidates will need to articulate their positions clearly to sway undecided voters.
Age will be a significant focus during the debate. Biden, at 81, and Trump, at 78, are the oldest candidates ever to run for the U.S. presidency. Voters will be evaluating their physical and mental fitness for the role. Political strategist Rina Shah emphasized the importance of demonstrating “strength, vigor, vitality,” noting that voters will be keenly observing their performance.
In recent weeks, Democrats have decried viral videos made by conservative media showing Biden freezing or looking lost at significant events. The debate offers Biden an opportunity to counter these narratives. Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, pointed out that although Biden has never been known as a strong public speaker, the low expectations might play to his advantage if he exceeds them. “For Democrats, there’s always a concern that Biden – who’s never really been a great public speaker – would show his age and confirm a lot of the fears people have about him,” Kondik said. “But on the other hand, the bar for a good performance is so low that Biden may be able to clear it, and that may be helpful to him.”
This debate is particularly significant for Trump, marking his third presidential run. Having served from 2017 to 2021 and lost to Biden in 2020, Trump faces pressure to clearly define his policy positions. Hans Noel, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University, highlighted that Trump typically avoids detailed follow-up questions, whereas Biden tends to handle them well. “Trump doesn’t generally answer a lot of follow-up questions about a particular policy area,” Noel said. “Biden, I think, is usually pretty good with that. He’s shown that he’s been able to say ‘I know what’s going on with these nuances’. Trump would maybe like to be able to show that (at this debate).”
Speculation is mounting about the conservative agenda Trump might pursue if re-elected. The Heritage Foundation’s 900-page policy paper, Project 2025, outlines a series of proposals, including eliminating the Department of Education and giving the president greater control over the Department of Justice. These proposals have alarmed some moderate Republicans and Democrats alike.
Political strategist Rina Shah warned that such a conservative vision could be detrimental to the country. “There’s always talk about expanding the rights of certain classes of Americans, not limiting the rights. But that is precisely what they’ve come together to do, and it should shake the American consciousness,” Shah said. One idea in particular—proposing the removal of non-partisan civil servants and replacing them with Trump loyalists—is raising alarm bells over the potential for expanded presidential powers. “This goal – to fire and remove more people in the government and replace them with not just Republicans, but people who are personally loyal to Donald Trump himself – that’s exactly the thing that people see as having stopped Trump from being able to accomplish things that they were most concerned with last time,” Noel added.
In response, the Biden administration has been strengthening federal job protections to safeguard against potential sweeping changes by a new administration. With just over four months until the election, both candidates are under pressure to make a strong impression in the first debate to gain momentum in their campaigns.
