In a contentious first debate of the 2024 election cycle, Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump accused US President Joe Biden of being a “Manchurian candidate,” alleging that Biden receives money from China and is therefore afraid to confront the nation. The debate, hosted at CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, featured a highly polarized exchange between the current and former presidents.
During the debate, Trump, 78, claimed, “We now have the largest deficit in the history of our country. We have the largest deficit with China. He gets paid by China. He’s a Manchurian candidate. He gets money from China.” Biden, 81, refuted the allegations but struggled at times with his phrasing, giving Trump opportunities to capitalize on his stumbles.
Both candidates stood at podiums with no live audience and with their microphones muted while the other spoke. This unprecedented format highlighted the tension and stakes of the early debate in a deeply divided United States.
Trump also placed the blame for the Ukraine war on Biden, arguing that the invasion by Russia would not have occurred under his leadership. “This is a war that never should have started. If we had a leader in this war… He’s given $200 billion now or more to Ukraine. That’s a lot of money. I don’t think there’s ever been anything like it,” Trump asserted.
Further escalating the debate, Trump accused Biden of siding with Palestinians in the ongoing Gaza conflict. He criticized Biden for allegedly refusing to support Israel fully in its war against Hamas, saying, “He doesn’t want to do it. He’s become like a Palestinian — but they don’t like him because he’s a very bad Palestinian, he’s a weak one.”
The debate also saw clashes over the economy, abortion, and immigration. Biden defended his record, pointing to the challenges he inherited from Trump. “We got to take a look at what I was left when I became president, what Mr. Trump left me,” Biden said, citing the economic downturn and mishandling of the pandemic. He referenced Trump’s controversial advice during the COVID-19 pandemic, “just inject a little bleach in your arm.”
Trump countered by boasting about the economy under his administration, claiming it was “the greatest economy in the history of our country.” He asserted, “We have never done so well. Everybody was amazed by other countries were copying us.” Biden responded, “Well, look, the greatest economy in the world? He’s the only one who thinks that.”
The early face-off between Biden and Trump sets the stage for a high-stakes race for the White House, highlighting the deep divisions and critical issues that will dominate the 2024 presidential election.
