Calls for Joe Biden to step aside after he stumbles through Donald Trump debate and fails to battle off age concerns

PRESIDENT Joe Biden has put on a low-energy debate performance that has voters questioning whether he is the right pick for another term in the White House.

Biden faced former President Donald Trump in the first official debate of the 2024 election cycle on Thursday — and no one knew what to expect.

President Joe Biden spoke in a low voice throughout the first debateCredit: Reuters

Some viewers questioned whether his low-energy performance reflected poorly on his healthCredit: Reuters

Former President Donald Trump has accused Biden of being too old to run for another four yearsCredit: Reuters

The President's health has been a hot topic throughout his presidency, as voters ask themselves if the 81-year-old can manage another four years in office.

Trump has often promoted the idea that Biden is too old to run, although he is just a few years younger at 78.

CNN host Van Jones became emotional when discussing Biden's appearance and demeanor during the debate and asked a post-event panel whether they thought Biden was right for the job given his health.

Many voters also said on social media that they were tuning into the debate in part to check up on the President's performance and energy levels — and they did not like what they saw.

X-user Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) shared a clip of Biden freezing up and looking off into the distance while trying to finish a sentence during the debate.

"This is the only moment in the debate that really matters. Biden can’t finish a sentence. This is the exact thing he needed to avoid, but he couldn’t," he wrote alongside the video.

Thousands of people liked the post and dozens left comments.

NOT THEIR FIRST RODEO

When Biden and Trump matched up in September 2020, over 73 million people tuned into what became an infamously chaotic debate that this year's hosts have vowed not to repeat.

To avoid a similar showdown on Thursday, CNN decided to mute each candidate's mics when not their turn to speak and take away the studio audience.

Speakers were not allowed to bring any props or notes onto the stage and were not permitted to speak to their staff during the two scheduled breaks.

The differences may have contributed to some viewers' negative conclusions that the event was "dry" and even "the worst debate" some had ever seen.

His performance left some viewers asking, "Is Joe Biden's voice gone," and asking questions like, "Is Joe Biden whispering?"

BIDEN FIGHTS BACK

Biden has largely come under fire in recent months for his performance on the economy, which he has said is doing well despite consumer complaints about everpresent inflation.

Many voters have also questioned the President's dedication to managing the immigration situation on the southern border with Mexico and an antiquated immigration system.

"We've made significant progress from the debacle that was left by President Trump," Biden said during his closing statement.

He elaborated on his policies for taxes, childcare, healthcare, inflation, and more key topics throughout the 90-minute debate.

Earlier this month, Biden announced sweeping changes through a series of executive actions that bar migrants from seeking asylum in between ports of entry when the border becomes overwhelmed — resulting in a 40% drop in border crossings, according to Politifact.

He also shared a new policy that would protect over half a million undocumented migrants who are the spouses or children of U.S. citizens from deportation.

What are Trump and Biden's platforms?

A look at what issues matter most to the candidates.

Biden's talking points:

The importance of democracy after the January 6 attack on the Capitol
Advocate for abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with a 6-3 judgment in 2022
His Build Back Better plan, the $2.2 trillion infrastructure spending bill introduced in 2021
Support for Ukraine and Israel while they are at war
Highlight the strong US economy and low unemployment rates during his presidency

Trump's talking points:

Slam issues at the US-Mexico border, which was a critical talking point for his 2016 win
Criticize the slew of criminal and civil lawsuits filed against him
Applaud the Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Discuss a plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, although he hasn't said which country he wants to win
Advocate for parents' rights to regulate and restrict discussion of gender, sexuality, and race in schools

TRUMP TAKES HIS STAND

Trump has often been seen by voters as tougher on immigration, extremism, and foreign policy.

Trump declared, "We’re living in hell," in his closing remarks on Thursday, criticizing the country's current state.

He compared the situation to the Charlottesville neo-Nazi rally, saying it is "a thousand times worse" under Biden's leadership.

Trump accused Biden of causing national unrest due to a lack of respect.

Some of his most well-known initiatives were the Muslim Ban, the Mexican Border Wall, and the border patrol's child separation policy — although whether these moves actually lowered rates of illegal immigration into the US is still up for debate, according to experts at the Migration Policy Institute.

The former President is also often lauded for his handling of the economy by supporters, who say that he managed the country like a successful business.

Trump was president during the COVID-19 pandemic when the US took on unprecedented levels of national debt — but millions of people individually benefited from the federal government's multiple stimulus checks.

The stock market did better under the previous president, but both Biden and Trump oversaw years of strong growth in GDP and the job market, according to Forbes.