Biden’s lacklustre debate performance has sparked calls for his withdrawal from political figures in the UK and beyond, raising international concerns about his leadership. Here’s the full story.
Debate Horror Show
In the wake of the first 2024 Presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the UK and other US allies have reacted with horror to Biden’s terrible performance, which has led to serious questions about his ability to lead.
Stumbling Performance
The debate, which saw an almost unwatchable, stumbling performance from Biden and an unusually calm seeming Trump, has triggered calls for Biden to reconsider his candidacy.
“Historically Bad”
Lord Kim Darroch, former British ambassador to the U.S., described the debate as a “historically bad performance” for Biden, fueling doubts about his prospects for re-election.
Biden’s Struggles
Throughout the debate, Biden struggled to maintain a coherent narrative, often losing his train of thought and delivering statements which made little sense.
“Beat Medicare” Gaffe
One of the more notable instances was when he mistakenly said, “We finally beat Medicare,” prompting Trump to retort, “He did beat Medicare. Beat it to death.”
Criticisms Emerge
These moments of confusion led to criticisms from within Biden’s party and among international observers. David Axelrod, a key advisor to former President Barack Obama, remarked on CNN, “I think the panic had set in, and I think you’re going to hear discussions that I don’t know will lead to anything, but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.”
Stand Aside, Biden
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Lord Darroch stated, “Joe Biden should stand aside. This was a historically bad performance. He was inaudible, incoherent and lost his train of thought several times.”
No Sense at All
He added, “Some of his answers simply made no sense. The one ‘we have beaten Medicaid’ will be repeated a thousand times between now and the election. He should stand down – it’s very hard to see him winning now.”
“Joe-Matosed”
The British tabloid The Sun succinctly captured the global sentiment with a headline: “JOE-MATOSED.” Various international media outlets echoed The Sun’s tone, reflecting a pervasive disappointment and concern over Biden’s leadership capabilities.
Allies Worried
The debate’s outcome has particularly worried U.S. allies in Europe. Norbert Röttgen, a veteran German lawmaker and former chair of the Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee, stated, “Germany must prepare at full speed for an uncertain future. If we don’t take responsibility for European security now, no one will.”
Anxiety Over Trump
The sentiment highlights the growing anxiety among U.S. allies who fear that a faltering Biden presidency could lead to the return of Donald Trump to the White House, which would almost certainly lead to weakened transatlantic ties and a considerably less predictable U.S. foreign policy.
Trump’s NATO View
Trump has argued that European nations in NATO should contribute more to their defence, as America is the largest military and financial contributor to the alliance.
Ukraine War Promise
Trump argued that the Ukraine war is “a war that never should have started,” and went on to claim, “I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelenskyy as president-elect before I take office on Jan. 20.” However, Trump did not give any details how he would achieve this seemingly impossible task.
Biden’s Question
In response, Biden questioned Trump’s judgement, asking, “Do you think he’ll [Putin] stop if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland?”
Biden’s Strong Point
One of Biden’s few well-received points was on this exact topic when he referenced Trump’s adoration of authoritarian leaders like Putin and claimed that Ukraine would not be safe should Trump be reelected.
“Let Putin Take Kyiv”
Biden stated, “Just let Putin go ahead and take Kyiv.”
Kremlin’s Silence
When asked about President Putin’s thoughts on the debate, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin was asleep during the debate and that Putin would not comment even if he had seen it.
No Interference
Peskov added, “We never interfere with U.S. election campaigns,” despite years of allegations that Russia has done precisely that.
UK Media Response
Back in the UK, media outlets across the political spectrum have dissected the debate, with many commentators agreeing that Biden’s performance was not just lacklustre but potentially disastrous.
“Beyond Awful”
Jon Sopel of The Independent wrote, “President Biden managed to stay upright for the 90 minutes of the debate and didn’t fall asleep; as he shuffled on and off stage, he didn’t trip over. He made his way to the lectern successfully.”
Complete Brain Freeze
He added, “But – honestly – that is about as good as it gets. His voice was thin and reedy – and at one point, when he was talking about billionaires paying more tax, he had a complete brain freeze and became totally incoherent and ended up talking about Medicare. It was horrid. Beyond awful.”
Mounting Pressure
As the fallout from the debate continues, with Biden facing mounting pressure to not just his campaign strategy but the wisdom of him running at all, it remains to be seen if Biden or some other Democrat will face off against Trump in the American elections in November.
Uncertain Future
Similarly, what this means for the UK is also unknown, but many British and European politicians may sleep a little less securely after seeing the debate.
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