United States
Joe Biden’s dismal debate
June 9, 2025
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Who won?
Donald Trump. Often it is difficult to call the winner of a debate, and partisans always claim that their candidate was the victor regardless of the evidence. But last night’s contest was a complete disaster for Mr Biden. He stumbled over answers, stammered indecipherably at times and did not land prepared attack lines. Mr Trump was his usual self—meandering, mendacious, vindictive—but that did not stop him from coming out on top.
Donald Trump. Often it is difficult to call the winner of a debate, and partisans always claim that their candidate was the victor regardless of the evidence. But last night’s contest was a complete disaster for Mr Biden. He stumbled over answers, stammered indecipherably at times and did not land prepared attack lines. Mr Trump was his usual self—meandering, mendacious, vindictive—but that did not stop him from coming out on top.
What were the highlights?
Given how few there were, the lowlights are what stand out. The two candidates’ most memorable lines were not about policy or their vision for America, but rather petty insults. Mr Biden accused his opponent of having the “morals of an alley cat”; Mr Trump quipped that the president “can’t hit a ball 50 yards”. During an ensuing squabble about golf handicaps, Mr Trump admonished Mr Biden: “Let’s not act like children.” “You are the child,” Mr Biden countered.
Given how few there were, the lowlights are what stand out. The two candidates’ most memorable lines were not about policy or their vision for America, but rather petty insults. Mr Biden accused his opponent of having the “morals of an alley cat”; Mr Trump quipped that the president “can’t hit a ball 50 yards”. During an ensuing squabble about golf handicaps, Mr Trump admonished Mr Biden: “Let’s not act like children.” “You are the child,” Mr Biden countered.
How much will it matter?
Debates generally have little effect on public opinion, but Mr Biden’s dismal performance may prove an exception. He had one mission going into the contest: to prove wrong sceptics who think he is too old and infirm for office. Instead the president reinforced voters’ doubts. Almost 60% of Americans planned to watch the debate, and many more will see clips of his worst moments. Before the debate Mr Biden was not favoured to win the election. His performance will have done nothing to improve his chances.
Debates generally have little effect on public opinion, but Mr Biden’s dismal performance may prove an exception. He had one mission going into the contest: to prove wrong sceptics who think he is too old and infirm for office. Instead the president reinforced voters’ doubts. Almost 60% of Americans planned to watch the debate, and many more will see clips of his worst moments. Before the debate Mr Biden was not favoured to win the election. His performance will have done nothing to improve his chances.
What do the polls say?
Though the polls have for weeks shown the two men neck and neck in the popular vote, Mr Biden had more to lose from the debate than Mr Trump. Beforehand Democrats were more open to changing their minds than independents or Republicans. Young people, who favour the president but are unreliable voters, were more likely than other age groups to be swayed by the debate’s outcome, although they were also less likely to actually tune in (see charts). Voters switching to Mr Trump, or just staying home in November, could sink Mr Biden’s hopes of a second term.
Though the polls have for weeks shown the two men neck and neck in the popular vote, Mr Biden had more to lose from the debate than Mr Trump. Beforehand Democrats were more open to changing their minds than independents or Republicans. Young people, who favour the president but are unreliable voters, were more likely than other age groups to be swayed by the debate’s outcome, although they were also less likely to actually tune in (see charts). Voters switching to Mr Trump, or just staying home in November, could sink Mr Biden’s hopes of a second term.
What now?
Even before the debate ended, Democrats were in panic mode. Questions are being raised about whether Mr Biden should drop out of the race. But he has won almost all the delegates he needs to secure the party’s presidential nomination in August. That means that only he can remove himself from the ticket. And even if he were minded to step aside, the chaos that would ensue could hobble the party, and whomever it chose to represent it, going into the election.
Even before the debate ended, Democrats were in panic mode. Questions are being raised about whether Mr Biden should drop out of the race. But he has won almost all the delegates he needs to secure the party’s presidential nomination in August. That means that only he can remove himself from the ticket. And even if he were minded to step aside, the chaos that would ensue could hobble the party, and whomever it chose to represent it, going into the election.
Debate debacle
Joe Biden’s horrific debate performance casts his entire candidacy into doubt. The president had one job and he utterly failed at it. Read our reaction to the debate.
“Did we just watch the last debate for Joe Biden?” asked Peter Hoysted in the Australian, a newspaper. Mr Trump had his own “senior moments”, but “bailed out with some well rehearsed lines”. Looking “pale and skeletal”, Mr Biden “stumbled and fumbled”. His attacks were like “being belted with a handful of arugula”. “This was an unmitigated disaster for Biden.”
20m, the number of people Mr Trump claimed might have crossed the border during Mr Biden’s time in office. Although there has been a large influx, the real number is about a quarter of that.
From Monday to Thursday we’ll quiz you on all things America. This week’s winner is Penny Dodd in Calgary, Canada. The answers were:
Monday: Nellie Tayloe Ross, of Wyoming, was the first female state governor.
Tuesday: Wyoming was the first state to grant women the right to vote in 1869, when it was still a territory.
Wednesday: The franchise was extended to all American women in 1920, when the 19th amendment was ratified.
Thursday: Sandra Day O’Connor, who was appointed in 1981, was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
See how to take part in the quiz at the bottom of this page.
If you enjoyed this week’s questions, play Dateline, The Economist’s history game.
How to take part in the quiz: From Monday to Thursday we’ll quiz you on America. Email all your answers with your name and where you are from to usib@economist.com before 5pm New York time (10pm London time) on a Thursday. The weekly winner, chosen at random from those who give all the right answers, will be announced on this page on Fridays.