Trump, Biden gear up for historic US presidential debate

NEWS WIRES
·2-min read

President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump will face off in Thursday night's debate in Atlanta. It's not just the first-ever matchup between a sitting president and a former one, but it's also the first debate for either candidate in this year's election.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump square off for a historic US presidential debate Thursday, with the stage set for what could be an inflection point in the 2024 race as millions of voters tune in to the clash of rivals.

The showdown -- between the oldest-ever incumbent and a convicted felon -- fires the starting gun on what promises to be a bruising summer of campaigning in a deeply polarised and tense United States still convulsed over the chaos and violence that accompanied the 2020 election.

With only two debates this election cycle, Thursday's high-stakes event takes on heightened significance, and both candidates have stepped up their personal attacks, with national polls showing the pair neck and neck.

As the candidates applied finishing touches to their debate strategy, one critical question remained: Will Trump the political pugilist rein in his aggressive tendencies or unleash his unruliness, much as he did in their first chaotic debate four years ago?

"I think I have been preparing for it for my whole life... We'll do very well," Trump told right-wing network Newsmax in an interview on his debate preparation.

The president will be desperate to avoid any major gaffes. He meanwhile was pulling no punches Wednesday -- at least on social media, where he said "Donald Trump is the greatest threat to our democracy," a message he will almost certainly seek to hammer home on debate night.

(AFP)


Read more on FRANCE 24 English

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