‘Deep panic’ among Democrats after Biden’s performance as Trump spouts lies

Donald Trump and Joe Biden have concluded their first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle in Atlanta, Georgia.

The president stumbled over answers and rambled, appearing low energy with the White House confirming later that he had a cold. Trump meanwhile spouted lies and falsehoods throughout mostly failing to answer questions and had to be pressed three times on whether he would accept election results.

Broadcast live from CNN’s studios with the network’s anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash serving as moderators. Biden arrived at the venue accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden. Melania Trump was not in attendance. There was no handshake between the two candidates as they took the stage and no love lost by the end.

Democrats appeared in “deep panic” from early on in the debate as Biden appeared frail and quiet. In post-debate analysis, CNN pundits even spoke of the possibility that he should step down as the party’s candidate.

Stay tuned for more…

Key Points

• Biden campaign tries to use Trump’s second-term blueprint against him as debate looms

• Who are the moderators in tonight’s debate?

• Supreme Court issues major rulings, but decision on Trump’s immunity will gave to wait

• How to watch the presidential debate

• Biden mocks drug conspiracy with ‘Zero Malarkey’ water

Watch: Harris says ‘performance’ as president is what matters

05:15 , Oliver O’Connell

CNN snap poll: Who won the debate?

05:08 , Oliver O’Connell

CNN’s flash poll of debate watchers found that 67 per cent thought Donald Trump won the debate and 33 per cent thought Joe Biden did.

Before the debate, 45 per cent thought Biden would win and 55 per cent thought Trump would.

Asked about their confidence in the candidates’ ability to lead the country, just 14 per cent had “a lot” of confidence in Biden, 29 per cent “some”, and 57 per cent said “none”.

The corresponding numbers for Trump were 36 per cent, 20 per cent, and 44 per cent, respectively.

‘Morals of an alley cat’: Biden lays into Trump over sexual abuse and affair claims

05:00 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden laid into Donald Trump over claims of sexual abuse and his affair with Stormy Daniels, saying the former president has the “morals of an alley cat” at Thursday night’s presidential debate.

Biden’s remarks came after Trump attacked his son, Hunter Biden, who was recently found guilty on federal gun charges.

Katie Hawkinson has the story.

Biden lays into Trump over sexual abuse and affair claims: ‘Morals of an alley cat’

Watch: Rep Jasmine Crockett says Trump acting like used car salesman

04:55 , Oliver O’Connell

Former Trump aide turned foe despairs at Biden performance

04:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Alyssa Farah Griffin, who worked in the Trump White House but is now a major Trump critic, was watching the debate for CNN.

Here are her thoughts:

Kamala Harris acknowledges ‘slow start’ but warns of ‘extraordinary stakes’ of election

04:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper about tonight’s debate, Vice President Kamala Harris said: “It was a slow start, that’s obvious to everyone. I’m talking about the choice in November.”

She said the choice is between “the destruction of democracy” or to “continue on a course that’s about strengthening America’s economy.”

Pressed on Biden’s performance, Harris added: “I got that this is the after-play from the debate, this conversation I’m in. But I think it’s also important to recognize the choice … involves extraordinary stakes.”

“People can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance,” said a fiery Harris.

Watch: ‘It’s kind of a Defcon 1 moment’ says former Obama adviser

04:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Newsom says he would never turn his back on Biden

04:35 , Oliver O’Connell

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg reports from the debate spin room.

California Governor Gavin Newsom told reporters: “I would never turn my back on President Biden. Never turn my back on President Biden, I don’t know a Democrat in my party. That would do so. And especially after tonight, we have his back. We run not the 90-yard dash we are all in. We’re gonna double down in the next few months. We’re gonna win this election. Everyone’s questioning his performance. Well, how about the substance?”

Melania Trump breaks with tradition by skipping presidential debate

04:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Melania Trump will break a long-standing tradition by not attending the 2024 presidential debate on Thursday evening.

The former first lady was nowhere to be seen when Trump deboarded his plane in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of the first debate against President Joe Biden since 2020.

Ms Trump has been largely absent from his 2024 presidential campaign. She has already missed key events, including the kickoff of the 2024 election in Iowa and her husband’s Super Tuesday victory party.

Melania Trump breaks with tradition by skipping presidential debate

Watch: ‘Should he be in this race tomorrow morning?’

04:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Read Biden campaign’s post-debate statement

04:12 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon released the following statement after the debate:

“Tonight, President Biden presented a positive and winning vision for the future of America – one in which every American has a fair shot at the American dream, where every one of our rights are protected, and where our president fights to strengthen our democracy – not to tear it down.

“On the other side of the stage was Donald Trump, who offered a dark and backwards window into what America will look like if he steps foot back in the White House: a country where women are forced to beg for the health care they need to stay alive. A country that puts the interests of billionaires over working people. And a former president who not once, not twice, but three times, failed to promise he would accept the results of a free and fair election this November.

“Trump’s performance tonight reminded the American people why they fired him four years ago, and reinforced just how high the stakes are this November for the future of our country.”

Social media in meltdown over Trump and Biden’s debate performance: ‘Give him one of the Panera lemonades’

04:08 , Oliver O’Connell

Social media is having a meltdown over the first presidential debate of 2024.

Katie Hawkinson has collated some of the best reactions:

‘Pure comedy’: Social media in meltdown over Trump-Biden debate

Watch: Hannity calls Biden debate performance ‘a disaster’

04:04 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Joy Reid says ‘universal reaction was somewhere approaching panic’

04:01 , Oliver O’Connell

‘Sense of shock’ among Democrats

04:01 , Oliver O’Connell

David Axelrod, the veteran Democrat strategist, said on CNN post-debate that “there was a sense of shock” at Biden’s performance from the start of the debate.

“He did get stronger as the debate went on but by that time, I think the panic had set in and I think you’re going to hear discussions … about whether he should continue.”

CNN’s John King agreed that Democrats started freaking out about Biden’s performance right away and are already talking about what they need to do going forward.

The phrase “Oh my God” was heard throughout the debate.

Kate Bedingfield, former White House communications director for Biden said: “It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden. I don’t think there’s any other way to slice it. His biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina — and he didn’t do that.”

Trump says US was ‘respected all over the world’ on Jan 6

04:00 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden confronted Donald Trump for the first time in person about his role on January 6, asking him to once again denounce the far-right Proud Boys gang and those who attacked the US Capitol.

In their first debate ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the former president refused to answer whether he would condemn the attack or respond to questions about voters who are concerned that Trump violated his oath to accept elections as they prepare to cast their ballots in the next one.

CNN moderator Jake Tapper tried to ask him twice.

Alex Woodward reports.

Trump says US was ‘respected all over the world’ on Jan 6 in first debate

No Biden surrogates present after debate

03:56 , Oliver O’Connell

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg reports from the spin room in Atlanta:

“Minutes after the debate wrapped, an entire roster of Trump boosters took to the floor to declare that their candidate had won by any measure.

“Biden’s campaign had assembled a group of surrogates to speak on his behalf but they were nowhere to be found, and a Biden campaign spokesperson did not immediately reply to a text asking when or if they would be here.”

Trump declares victory

03:42 , Oliver O’Connell

The Trump campaign released the following statement declaring victory:

“Tonight President Trump delivered the greatest debate performance and victory in history to the largest voter audience in history, making clear exactly how he will improve the lives of every American. Over and over President Trump highlighted common-sense plans to reduce inflation, bringing down the costs of groceries, housing, and gas, as well as his plans to bring back his successful first-term policies that kept our southern border secure and free from the wave of Biden Migrant Crimes currently sweeping our country.

“Joe Biden on the other hand showed exactly why he deserves to be fired. Despite taking a week-long vacation at Camp David to prepare for the debate, Biden was unable to defend his disastrous record on the economy and the border. Throughout the debate Biden lied, invented stories, and could not articulate a single plan to make things less expensive and keep our people safe, choosing instead to change the subject and dwell on the past. Even worse, Biden couldn’t explain why he took a week of vacation at Camp David while 50 ISIS terrorists ran loose in our country. President Trump is spot-on when he says that if Joe Biden is too incompetent to stand trial, then Biden is too incompetent to be President.

“Americans are struggling financially. The families of Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, Jocelyn Nungaray, and every other victim of Biden Migrant Crime are grieving. Our country is on fire at home and we stand on the brink of World War III because of Joe Biden’s incompetence. But we can turn it all around, and bring back the American Dream, starting on day one, by reelecting President Donald J. Trump.”

– Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles

Trump pulls no punches as Biden struggles in debate

03:35 , Oliver O’Connell

Former president Donald Trump pulled no punches in his debate against President Joe Biden during their first debate in Atlanta, attacking him as incoherent as Biden sputtered and stumbled over his words.

The president, his voice hoarse, regularly tripped over his own words and interrupted his own sentences.

As Biden defended his executive actions to curb immigration, Trump said: “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence – and i don’t think he knows what he said either.”

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump pulls no punches as Biden struggles in first presidential debate

Trump pressed on accepting election results

03:34 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump is asked if he will accept the election results.

“If the election is fair, free, and I want that more than anybody…” and that’s as far as he got.

Asked again, he said: “If it’s a fair, legal, and good election, absolutely…” and once again that’s as far as he’s going to get — conditional of course.

Watch: Trump and Biden spar over cognitive tests and golf

03:31 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump says he won’t block abortion pill and repeats ‘abortions after birth’ lie

03:24 , Oliver O’Connell

Former President Donald Trump rejected conservative efforts to ban the abortion pill mifepristone and said that he would not support such a ban as president at Thursday’s debate.

Trump and President Joe Biden appeared at Thursday’s debate in Atlanta, where the ex-president walked away from his party’s efforts to further roll back abortion rights and said that he agreed with the decision of the Supreme Court this week keeping the medication legal.

“I support what they’ve done,” he said of the Court’s decision keeping the expansion of the drug’s availability legal.

John Bowden reports.

Trump says he won’t block abortion pill at first presidential debate

Trump calls Biden a ‘Manchurian candidate’

03:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump calls Biden a ‘Manchurian candidate’ in a segment on China and rattles off a number of false claims in quick succession.

Trump claims it was him and not Biden who lowered cost of insulin

03:14 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrats push back that this is a “bold-faced lie”.

Biden calls out Trump over climate crisis

03:11 , Oliver O’Connell

Asked about the climate crisis, Trump claims he wants the cleanest water and air and that the US had that during his administration.

“The cleanest water? The cleanest water? He didn’t do a damn thing for the environment,” says Biden.

White House print pool reporter allowed into studio

03:06 , Oliver O’Connell

The White House print pool reporter was allowed into the studio during the commercial break.

Here’s what White House Reporter for The Washington Post Tyler Pager observed:

Your pooler was brought into the studio at 9:53 during a commercial break.

POTUS and former President Donald Trump were both standing at their lecterns, staring straight ahead as photographers snapped photos.

Neither of them said anything or made eye contact with one another. POTUS cracked a smile at the photogs, and as the pool was being ushered out, Trump took a sip of water from a plastic bottle.

Your pooler was ushered out at 9:54 p.m. after about 45 seconds and is back in the hold room.

Update: Biden does not have Covid

03:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump rambling too

02:56 , Oliver O’Connell

Asked about his felony conviction, Trump brings up the Ukrainian prosecutor, a billion dollars, quid pro quo, “death at the border,” calls Biden a criminal and finally yells: “I did nothing wrong!”

BIden has a cold, report says

02:53 , Oliver O’Connell

‘You have the morals on alley cat’

02:52 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump calls Biden “a criminal” and says he “could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office.”

Almost halfway through the debate, President Biden refers to President Trump as a convicted felon.

Trump responds that his son is a convicted felon, too.

Biden then brings up the civil penalties Trump owes including against E Jean Carroll and the Stormy Daniels affair.

“You have the morals on Alleycat”

Trump responds, “I didn’t have sex with a porn star.”

Biden reminds viewers Trump is a felon and Jan 6 rioters deserve punishment

02:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump dodges January 6 question

02:44 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump pivots from a question on democracy and January 6, talking about the border, energy independence, low regulations, and respect in the world.

On January 6 rioters, Trump says: What they’ve done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, what you have done, how you’ve destroyed the lives of so many people.

‘World blowing up under him’ says Trump of Biden

02:35 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump argued that Biden’s Afghan exit emboldened Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine: “The whole world is blowing up under him.”

Biden: “I’ve never heard so much malarky in my life.”

He then argues Trump is soft on Putin but he again rambles.

02:31 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden says Trump once called veterans losers and suckers and then said to him “You’re the sucker. You’re the loser.”

Watch: Biden is struggling and Trump sees an opening to spout untruths about abortion, the border, and veterans

02:27 , Oliver O’Connell

Debate moves on to abortion

02:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump turns the question of Roe v Wade around and goes after Democrats.

“The problem they have is they’re radical, because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth,” he says.

Biden delivers rambling response to Medicare question

02:17 , Oliver O’Connell

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg reports: “Biden just lost his train of thought. Losing his train of thought will lose him the election. It’s the one thing he could not do tonight and he did it in the first 15 minutes.”

Daniel Dale, fact-checker at CNN writes: “Biden made false claims about his drug policies in Medicare. It’s a $35/month cap on insulin, not $15/month. And it’s a $2,000 per year annual cap starting next year, not $200.”

Biden sounds hoarse

02:12 , Oliver O’Connell

First question is on the economy and inflation

02:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden answers first and touts his achievements in building the economy back after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Trump claims he got the country out of the pandemic recession. This did not happen until after he left office.

02:06 , Oliver O’Connell

The debate is getting underway

02:03 , Oliver O’Connell

CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash have run through the rules and Joe Biden and Donald Trump have taken the stage.

There is no handshake between the candidates.

Melania Trump a no-show at husband’s first debate

01:56 , Oliver O’Connell

Melania Trump will break a long-standing tradition by not attending the 2024 presidential debate on Thursday evening.

Donald Trump’s wife was nowhere to be seen when he de-boarded his plane in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of his first debate against President Joe Biden since 2020. Now, it is confirmed she will not be attending the debate to support her husband, CNN reports.

Katie Hawkinson has the story.

Melania Trump breaks with tradition by skipping presidential debate

RFK Jr admits he has ‘perception problem’

01:41 , Oliver O’Connell

Having not met the requirements to be on the debate stage in Atlanta tonight, independent candidate Robert F Kennedy, Jr, mounted a passionate defense of his independent campaign in an interview with Dr Phil aired on Thursday.

Josh Marcus watched the interview.

RFK Jr admits ‘perception problem,’ defends conspiracies and says family ‘loves’ him

Biden mocks drug conspiracy with ‘Zero Malarkey’ water

01:39 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden has mocked rightwing conspiracy theories that he is on performance-enhancing drugs by posing with a Dark Brandon-branded can of… water.

“I don’t know what they’ve got in these performance enhancers, but I’m feeling pretty jacked up,” a tweet reads. “Try it yourselves, folks.”

A page on the campaign website reads: “The secret to a good debate performance? Staying hydrated. Get yourself the same performance enhancers Joe Biden took before going on stage. 100% water, zero malarkey.”

Trump whittles down VP picks — here’s who is in the running

01:35 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump says he has picked his vice president after a report revealed he was focusing on four potential candidates earlier this month.

Trump has picked his running mate but ”nobody knows” who it is yet, he told reporters at a campaign event on Saturday. The former president said his pick will be attending the first presidential debate on June 27.

Trump said he will likely announce his candidate at the Republican National Convention next month, where he will be named the GOP presidential nominee.

Read more…

Trump whittles down VP picks – here’s the frontrunners

Trump ally Corey Lewandowski tries to raise expectations for Biden

01:31 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump surrogate Corey Lewandowski talks about President Joe Biden:

“He’s had some success in his political career. He’s been doing this for 50 years, he got elected in 1972. So you know, Joe Biden has been an individual who has performed on the debate stage, whether it was for the US Senate race, the vice presidential race, or the presidential race, for a long time. And I think he’s going to be prepared tonight because he’s been sequestered at Camp David for the last week.”

Asked if the debate rules will help or hinder Donald Trump, he says:

“I don’t know. I mean, look, you know, I guess we’re gonna wait and see, look, if this debate is fair, which we all hope it is going to be. And the moderators are just simply that, which is they ask a question and let the candidates respond. And then there’s the one-minute rebutta … then the American people will be served? Well, if we see a lot of back and forth or interruptions and I think we’ve got a different issue, because, you know, I think what this opportunity is tonight, is the American people are going to tune in to see two candidates who have a very different vision for America over the next four years, and I think they should have the chance to lay that out.”

Who are the moderators in tonight’s debate?

01:30 , Oliver O’Connell

CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate tonight’s showdown between Donald Trump and Dana Bash.

Jake Tapper

Tapper is the lead Washington anchor for the network, hosting The Lead on weekdays and co-hosting the Sunday program State of the Union along with Bash.

Before being hired by CNN, Tapper worked at ABC News, where he served as the senior White House correspondent.

Born in New York City and raised in Philadelphia, the 55-year-old moderated the Republican primary debate in September 2015 featuring Mr Trump which drew more than 23 million viewers. On 10 March of the following year, he moderated the GOP debate in Miami, Florida, which garnered 12 million viewers.

Tapper and Bash also moderated a Republican primary debate earlier this year.

Tapper’s early career featured stints as the press secretary for Democratic Rep Marjorie Margolies, who was in the House between 1993 and 1995.

Dana Bash

Bash, 53, is the host of CNN’s Inside Politics and the co-anchor of State of the Union. Her father Stuart Schwarts was a producer for ABC News, the Jewish Standard noted in 2015.

After graduating from George Washington University, Bash interned at NBC, CBS, and CNN, which she joined as a producer for weekend programs including, Late Edition, Evans & Novak, and the show she now hosts – Inside Politics.

She was previously the chief congressional correspondent for CNN. She’s now the chief political correspondent.

In 2019, she moderated the Democratic GOP debate where then-Senator Kamala Harris confronted then-ex-Vice President Joe Biden over segregation and bussing. Harris would later join Biden as his running mate and subsequently vice president.

In pictures: Protest and support in streets of Atlanta

01:26 , Oliver O’Connell

Newsom says Biden ‘moral voice’ and Trump has ‘no moral compass whatsoever’

01:22 , Oliver O’Connell

Speaking on the importance of the debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, California Governor Gavin Newsom says:

“It has an impact around the globe, it will be felt around the globe. This is about electing the leader of the free world. America matters. It’s about our moral authority, not just our formal authority. You’ve got someone that brings a moral voice in the work as president and someone that did just the opposite is no moral compass whatsoever. So this is a, it’s a profound and precious thing democracy. And there’s no guarantees. And in from a world global perspective, I don’t think there’s anything more important going on outside your respective countries than what’s happening here in the United States.”

Newsom: ‘We’ve got to get back on the offense’

01:08 , Oliver O’Connell

“We’re going to win this election. This guy [Trump] is weak. He’s been losing. And the Maga movement has been losing — 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024. They’re losing Jacksonville, they’re losing and Colorado Springs. They’re losing in New York, and states all across this country … we’ve got to get back on the offense. And we’re gonna win this election for the American people. Because we represent everyone —Joe Biden represents everybody in rural California, and places across this country, in my state, across this nation, he represents people that support him and didn’t support him. You cannot say that about Donald Trump.”

Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

One hour to go… here’s the highlights of when Biden and Trump last faced off four years ago

01:00 , Oliver O’Connell

What happened the last time Trump and Biden faced off in 2020?

In pictures: Biden and Trump surrogates gaggle in debate spin room

Friday 28 June 2024 00:59 , Oliver O’Connell

How to watch the presidential debate

Friday 28 June 2024 00:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Tonight’s Presidential Debate will air live on CNN, CNN International, and CNN en Español, and via streaming on Max for subscribers, and without a cable login on CNN.com.

CNN has also made the debate available to simulcast on additional broadcast and cable news networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News.

Trump and right-wing media spread conspiracy theories before Biden debate

Friday 28 June 2024 00:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump, his allies and right-wing media are whipping up conspiracy theories that his rival Joe Biden is using amphetamines, slamming Mountain Dew and using a secret earpiece for their 2024 debate.

Other bogus claims have accused debate host network CNN of delaying the broadcast by up to two minutes.

In a now-deleted post on X that was shared thousands of times, Donald Trump Jr falsely claimed that CNN is delaying the tape and that the president is “jacked up” on drugs.

Alex Woodward reports.

Trump and right-wing media spread wild conspiracy theories before Biden debate

Watch: Georgia governor says Trump would win state today

Friday 28 June 2024 00:37 , Oliver O’Connell

Ahead of tonight’s presidential debate, Governor Brian Kemp says if voting were held today, Donald Trump would win the battleground state of Georgia.

“If he stays focused tonight…I think he’ll win in November as well. But we cannot take that for granted,” the Republican told CBS News.

Mitch McConnell defies Trump by admitting Biden is a ‘good guy’

Friday 28 June 2024 00:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s floundering relationship with former President Donald Trump isn’t about to recover any time soon.

While McConnell has endorsed Trump, he recently broke with the leader of his party, saying that President Joe Biden is a “good guy.”

“I know Joe Biden pretty well. He’s a good guy, I like him personally,” McConnell told and audience in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday, according to The Hill.

McConnell and Biden spent decades together in the Senate and Biden would often be dispatched by President Barack Obama to deal with congressional Republicans during his time as vice president.

But the Republican senate leader also said, “I never thought he was moderate in the Senate, but he ran as a moderate.”

He added: “But as soon as the president got elected, he pretty much signed up with the far left of the Democratic Party, which has created another set of a problem for all of you who are in business.”

“This has been a regulatory nightmare by this administration,” he claimed.

Warnock calls Trump appeal to Black voters on criminal record ‘insulting’, ‘cynical’ and ‘racialized’

Friday 28 June 2024 00:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden spin room representative Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia called Donald Trump’s appeal to Black voters based on his criminal record “insulting”.

He told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer: “Donald Trump is literally running on his criminal record, as if that’s a reason for Black voters to vote for him. Nothing could be more insulting.”

“It was a cynical, racialized move,” he added.

The senator also made the point that if racism was really over like Tim Scott says it is, Trump wouldn’t have picked former football player Herschel Walker to be a Republican candidate for Senate “based on the color of his skin”.

Watch below:

Judge defends more hearings after being accused of slow-walking Trump classified docs case

Friday 28 June 2024 00:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Judge Aileen Cannon, who oversees Donald Trump’s classified documents case in Florida, has defended her decision to hold additional hearings in the case.

Cannon is seeking more evidence about the language in the FBI search warrant that was used to seize classified documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022, she wrote in a court filing on Thursday. Trump’s lawyers have argued the language was vague, and Cannon agreed there were “ambiguities” in her latest filing.

Katie Hawkinson reports.

Trump classified docs judge defends hearings after being accused of slow-walking case

Biden campaign calls Trump ‘feeble and tired’

Friday 28 June 2024 00:06 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden campaign tries to use Trump’s second-term blueprint against him as debate looms

Friday 28 June 2024 00:00 , Oliver O’Connell

With just hours to go until President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump meet for their first debate in four years, Biden’s campaign is looking to use the massive amounts of attention being lavished on the rhetorical prizefight to remind voters of Trumpworld’s plan to reshape government in the felonious ex-president’s image should he be returned to the White House next year.

The Biden campaign is rolling out a seven-figure paid digital and print-media campaign, which includes homepage takeovers at Buzzfeed, USA Today, CNN, El Tiempo Latino, Telemundo, theGrio, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution to highlight what they describe as “the dangers of electing Trump to a second term.”

The president’s campaign is also launching a new website that takes aim at Project 2025, the blueprint for a second Trump term that has been put forth by the right-wing Heritage Foundation think tank.

Biden campaign tries to use Trump’s second-term blueprint against him as debate looms

CNN shoots down bogus claim that network is delaying broadcast

Thursday 27 June 2024 23:47 , Alex Woodward

Right-wing social media users are spreading unsubstantiated claims that CNN is delaying its broadcast for up to two minutes. It’s entirely false, but appears to be part of a time-tested strategy to spread bogus statements across social media in the hopes that legitimate outlets pick them up to debunk them, thereby legitimizing them.

CNN’s own communications team said the claims are false.

“Watch out — it’s wild out here today — lots of people are falling for misinfo about the prez debate production,” wrote ex-CNN host Brian Stelter.

“To address one of the B.S. claims, no, CNN is not putting the live feed on a 1/2 minute tape delay to somehow protect the elderly candidates.”

Biden: ‘Atlanta, it’s good to be back!’

Thursday 27 June 2024 23:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Fox News’ advice to Trump for tonight’s debate

Thursday 27 June 2024 23:30 , Oliver O’Connell

‘Will you shut up, man’: The best jabs from Biden-Trump debates in 2020

Thursday 27 June 2024 23:15 , Joe Sommerlad

Joe Biden and Donald Trump are due to face each on the debate stage on Thursday evening in Atlanta, Georgia, in their first head-to-head of the 2024 election cycle, hosted by CNN.

The event has already been hit by controversy after the network cut an interview with Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Monday when she questioned the political allegiance of moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, subsequently demanding an apology from anchor Kasie Hunt.

Trump has also been busy amplifying baseless conservative speculation that the president will be using performance-enhancing medication during the debate to keep him sharp, an allegation his allies leveled during Biden’s State of the Union address in March as well.

The best jabs from Biden-Trump debates in 2020

Biden’s spin room team

Thursday 27 June 2024 23:09 , Oliver O’Connell

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg confirms that representing President Joe Biden in the spin room this evening will be Mary Trump, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rep Jasmine Crockett of Texas, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Rep Robert Garcia of California, DNC adviser Cedric Richmond, and Senator Raphael Warnock.

A Trump-aligned super PAC has put out a release singling out the two Black women on the list, attacking them as radicals.

Watch: MSNBC host says first question should be on 2020 election result

Thursday 27 June 2024 23:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Behind the scenes of the presidential debate with Andrew Feinberg

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Will we see any theatrics from Team Trump?

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:41 , Oliver O’Connell

Former Trump aide and now adversary Alyssa Farah Griffin thinks so and has popcorn ready…

“I expect Trump world will have some theatrical tricks up their sleeves tonight. They’ve used stunts at prior Presidential debates to try to trigger the opponent. Think bringing Bill Clinton’s accusers, to flying in a Biden “whistleblower” for a press conference. 🍿”

Donald Trump arrives in Atlanta for debate

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:39 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Why Trump’s ‘Biden on drugs’ messaging won’t work

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:30 , Oliver O’Connell

The Independent’s John Bowden and Andrew Feinberg discuss why Donald Trump’s accusation that Joe Biden is on performance-enhancing drugs won’t work beyond his base of supporters.

RFK Jr is here in spirit

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:25 , Oliver O’Connell

…or at least a rather old-looking campaign bus is parked up outside a row of frathouses near the media center.

Watch live as Trump arrives in Atlanta ahead of first presidential debate against Biden

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:22 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch live: Trump arrives in Atlanta ahead of first presidential debate against Biden

Obama and Biden are holding secret strategy meetings ahead of election, report claims

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:15 , Kelly Rissman

Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama met for private “secret” meals to discuss strategy as the highly contested 2024 election approaches.

The political pair have been having meetings, between just the two of them, as concerns over Donald Trump’s potential victory in November have creeped into reality, New York Magazine reported.

The former president’s “anxiety about the election is real,” a friend of Obama’s told the outlet. The source clarified his nerves are related to the general divisions of the country, not to his former vice president or Biden re-election campaign specifically.

Biden and Obama have long appeared to be a united front, but behind the scenes, the former president was not convinced that Biden’s 2020 run was the right move, the magazine wrote.

Obama and Biden are holding secret strategy meetings ahead of election, report claims

Trump’s niece will be in spin room for Biden campaign

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:11 , Oliver O’Connell

Mary Trump, the niece of former president Donald Trump, and one of his fiercest critics, will be in the CNN debate spin room tonight for the Biden campaign.

“We cannot afford to allow Donald Trump anywhere near the levers of power again,” she says in a statement, adding he is “desperate for power” and “must be stopped.”

First lady arrives in Atlanta for debate

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:06 , Oliver O’Connell

First Lady Jill Biden has arrived in Atlanta for tonight’s presidential debate.

Earlier in the day she was at a campaign event in Virginia Beach.

President Joe Biden responded to a tweet from the first lady earlier in the day saying that now the school year is over she is heading out on the campaign trail.

“The best part of the campaign trail is having you by my side, Jilly.”

What to watch tonight: Facial expressions and nonverbal cues

Thursday 27 June 2024 22:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg and Eric Garcia breakdown the importance of nonverbal cues and facial expressions in a debate in which candidate’s microphones are cut when their opponent is speaking.

CNN responds to demand for pool access to debate room

Thursday 27 June 2024 21:51 , Oliver O’Connell

In a statement, CNN has responded to concerns from the White House Correspondents’ Association regarding press access to the debate room.

The network says the “debate is being held without an audience in a CNN studio and is closed to press”.

Here’s the statement in full:

As proud members of the White House Correspondents Association, we respect the role the organization plays and their support for press freedom and access. CNN’s Presidential Debate is being held without an audience in a CNN studio and is closed to press. The feed was made available to Washington Pool Members, Washington Pool subscribers and CNN Affiliates, and is also available to embed via CNN’s YouTube channel without charge for digital outlets and is available on CNN.com. Following our traditional approach, CNN is providing access to the debate studio for a tight pool of photographers for the duration of the event and a larger group of photographers during a commercial break. In addition, CNN is providing access to the debate hall for the designated print pool reporter during the first commercial break to allow them to provide a pool report from inside the debate studio.

The print pool reporter who will be allowed access during the first commercial break is believed to be Tyler Pager of The Washington Post.

RFK Jr. didn’t qualify for the first presidential debate. So where does he stand?

Thursday 27 June 2024 21:45 , Gustaf Kilander

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has arranged his own counterprogramming to the first presidential debate after his low polling numbers kept him off the CNN stage with former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

The longshot independent candidate won’t take part in the Thursday evening debate after failing to reach the required polling thresholds and not being on enough state ballots. Recent fundraising reports also reveal that the campaign is floundering in the money game.

Just a couple hours before Trump and Biden face off on Thursday night, Kennedy is set to appear on Dr. Phil Primetime on Merit Street Media in what the TV personality has called an “uncensored one-on-one interview.”

In a clip shared on X, Kennedy says, “I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I could win.”

He added: “The one group I don’t do well with which is baby boomers, they think I’m genuinely a lunatic.”

RFK Jr. didn’t qualify for the first presidential debate. So where does he stand?

Biden team calls out Trump and allies for ‘resorting to desperate, obviously false lies’ over drug conspiracy

Thursday 27 June 2024 21:34 , Oliver O’Connell

The Biden campaign has responded to a conspiracy theory spread by Donald Trump and his allies that the president will be on some kind of performance-enhancing drugs for tonight’s debate.

Campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said that Trump and his allies “are resorting to desperate, obviously false lies” to avoid the issues at stake in the 2024 election.

Hitt told Fox News Digital on Wednesday evening: “Donald Trump is so scared of being held accountable for his toxic agenda of attacking reproductive freedom and cutting Social Security that he and his allies are resorting to desperate, obviously false lies.”

When asked for a yes or no answer, Hitt reiterated the point: “The accusation from Trump on drugs is a ‘desperate, obviously false lie.’”

Trump spokesperson Karolina Leavitt took a leaf from her boss’s playbook in her response to the outlet by using the term “many are saying” as a way of voicing an unproven and often baseless theory.

She told Fox News Digital that the former president would “absolutely not” be using performance-enhancing drugs and added: “President Trump has naturally elite stamina and doesn’t need performance-enhancing drugs, unlike Joe Biden, who many are saying will be drugged up for the debate like he was at the State of the Union. President Trump has repeatedly asked Joe Biden to participate in drug testing. What does Team Biden have to hide?”

Ex-Republican strategist shares ‘the rules of MAGA’: ‘Every accusation is a confession’

Thursday 27 June 2024 21:25 , Oliver O’Connell

Lincoln Project co-founder and former Republican strategist Rick Wilson urged his followers on X to “remember the rules of MAGA” ahead of the debate tonight.

Rick Wilson

CNN denies rumor debate will be on a minutes-long delay

Thursday 27 June 2024 21:12 , Oliver O’Connell

CNN has dismissed a report as false that tonight’s debate will be on a one to two-minute delay.

The rumor was also spread by Donald Trump Jr.

White House Correspondents’ Association asks CNN for debate access

Thursday 27 June 2024 20:59 , Oliver O’Connell

In her capacity as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, NBC News reporter Kelly O’Donnell has sent a letter to CNN requesting access to the print pool reporters for the duration of the debate.

Currently, a single print reporter will be permitted to enter the studio during a commercial break to briefly observe the setting.

O’Donnell writes: “The White House pool has a duty to document, report and witness the president’s events and his movement on behalf of the American people.”

“The pool is there for the ‘what ifs?’ in a world where the unexpected dows happen. A pool reporter is present to provide context and insight by direct observation and not through the lens of the television production.”

Biden greets supporters in Atlanta ahead of debate

Thursday 27 June 2024 20:53 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden made a quick stop ahead of tonight’s debate to greet supporters in Atlanta.

VIDEO: CNN hosts first presidential debate between Biden, Trump tonight

Thursday 27 June 2024 20:45 , Gustaf Kilander

Former president boards Trump Force One en route to Georgia

Thursday 27 June 2024 20:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump is on his way to Atlanta for tonight’s debate.

Footage shows Lord Cameron discussing Trump and Putin during hoax video call

Thursday 27 June 2024 20:15 , Rhiannon James

Footage of a hoax call in which Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron believes he is speaking to a former Ukrainian president has been released.

In the casual video call published by website Guido Fawkes, Lord Cameron discusses Labour, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine with someone purporting to be Petro Poroshenko.

Mr Poroshenko was Ukrainian president between 2014 and 2019, and has remained a prominent figure in the country since leaving office.

The Foreign Office said the perpetrators behind the call are “clearly Russian”, adding that “disinformation is a tactic straight from the Kremlin playbook”.

Footage shows Lord Cameron discussing Trump and Putin during hoax video call

Watch live: Biden arrives for first presidential debate against Trump in Atlanta

Thursday 27 June 2024 20:10 , Oliver Browning

Watch live as Joe Biden arrives in Atlanta to face off against Republican rival Donald Trump the first 2024 presidential debate.

The pair square off on Thursday 27 June at an unusually early debate that will offer voters a side-by-side look at the two oldest candidates ever to seek the country’s highest office.

The 90-minute televised debate, the first between a sitting president and a former one, will air at 9 pm ET (1am GMT on Friday) on CNN and is expected to draw a huge audience.

A record 84 million watched Mr Trump’s first debate in 2016 against Hillary Clinton.

Both men enter this time around with political vulnerabilities that present a mix of risk and opportunity.

The debate takes place far earlier than normal – more than four months before the 5 November election day – and against a backdrop of national opinion polls showing the two men in a dead heat.

Mr Trump, 78, will take the stage as a felon who still faces a trio of criminal cases, including charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Meanwhile Mr Biden, 81, is under intense pressure to avoid verbal stumbles and deliver a forceful debate performance, after months of Republican assertions his faculties have dulled with age.

RNC to host debate watch party with Trump VP contenders for donors as selection nears

Thursday 27 June 2024 20:09 , Gustaf Kilander

As speculation swirls around who former President Donald Trump will choose as his running mate, one of the potential VP picks will be at the debate in Atlanta tonight while several others are set to attend an RNC watch party for major donors.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott will be at the debate, according to NewsNation. Meanwhile, the watch party hosted by former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler and her husband, businessman Jeff Sprecher, will be attended by former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Senators Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, and JD Vance, in addition to Representatives Elise Stefanik, Byron Donalds, and Wesley Hunt, according to an invitation shared by The Daily Caller.

The chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) Michael Whatley, as well as RNC co-chair – and Trump’s daughter-in-law – Lara Trump, will also attend the watch party.

RNC to host Biden-Trump debate watch party with veep contenders

‘How much adderall are they gonna give him?’ Rep Nancy Mace comments on Biden ahead of debate

Thursday 27 June 2024 19:45 , Gustaf Kilander

South Carolina Rep Nancy Mace appeared on Newsmax and was asked what she expected to see from Joe Biden.

“How much adderall are they gonna give him? How many vitamins is he gonna be on? How long was his nap today?” she asked.

Trump faces renewed calls for investigation into Scottish business assets

Thursday 27 June 2024 19:15 , Neil Pooran, Joe Sommerlad

US presidential contenderDonald Trump is facing calls for an investigation into his business assets in Scotland from the Scottish Green Party in light of the recent civil judgement against the former president by a court in New York.

The Scottish Greens have previously been unsuccessful in their efforts to have the Trump Organization’s Scottish golf courses – in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire – investigated via an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO), which empowers law enforcement to investigate and potentially confiscate a suspect’s assets.

Renewing his call for an investigation into Trump, the party’s co-leader Patrick Harvie pointed to February’s New York civil case against the Republican politician, which saw Judge Arthur Engoron rule that Trump, his company and its key executives had routinely misled bankers and insurers over the value of their assets between 2011 and 2021 in order to obtain favourable terms from those lenders.

Trump faces renewed calls for investigation into Scottish business assets

Who are the moderators in tonight’s debate?

Thursday 27 June 2024 19:05 , Gustaf Kilander

CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate tonight’s showdown between Donald Trump and Dana Bash.

Jake Tapper

Tapper is the lead Washington anchor for the network, hosting The Lead on weekdays and co-hosting the Sunday program State of the Union along with Bash.

Before being hired by CNN, Tapper worked at ABC News, where he served as the senior White House correspondent.

Born in New York City and raised in Philadelphia, the 55-year-old moderated the Republican primary debate in September 2015 featuring Mr Trump which drew more than 23 million viewers. On 10 March of the following year, he moderated the GOP debate in Miami, Florida, which garnered 12 million viewers.

Tapper and Bash also moderated a Republican primary debate earlier this year.

Tapper’s early career featured stints as the press secretary for Democratic Rep Marjorie Margolies, who was in the House between 1993 and 1995.

Dana Bash

Bash, 53, is the host of CNN’s Inside Politics and the co-anchor of State of the Union. Her father Stuart Schwarts was a producer for ABC News, the Jewish Standard noted in 2015.

After graduating from George Washington University, Bash interned at NBC, CBS, and CNN, which she joined as a producer for weekend programs including, Late Edition, Evans & Novak, and the show she now hosts – Inside Politics.

She was previously the chief congressional correspondent for CNN. She’s now the chief political correspondent.

In 2019, she moderated the Democratic GOP debate where then-Senator Kamala Harris confronted then-ex-Vice President Joe Biden over segregation and bussing. Harris would later join Biden as his running mate and subsequently vice president.

Judge in Trump classified docs case grants his request for one hearing but denies bid for another

Thursday 27 June 2024 18:57 , Eric Tucker

The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case of former president Donald Trump granted a defense request for a hearing on whether prosecutors improperly breached attorney-client privilege when they obtained crucial evidence from of his ex-lawyers.

But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon also denied a request for a hearing on a separate Trump team claim that the Justice Department had submitted false or misleading information in an application for a warrant to search Trump’s Florida estate for classified records two years ago.

The order amounts to a mixed result for both sides and ensures further delays in a criminal case that has already been snarled by significant postponements, resulting in the indefinite postponement of a trial that had been set to begin on May 20 in Fort Pierce, Fla.

Judge in Trump classified docs case grants his request for one hearing but denies bid for another

VIDEO: Countdown to presidential debate

Thursday 27 June 2024 18:45 , Gustaf Kilander

Supreme Court issues major rulings, but decision on Trump’s immunity will gave to wait

Thursday 27 June 2024 18:19 , Gustaf Kilander

The Supreme Court issued four major rulings on Thursday but left the question of Trump’s immunity in his federal election interference case for another day.

The court overturned a Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan which would have seen billions of dollars go to helping to counteract the U.S. opioid crisis but would have shielded the Sackler family who owns the firm from future lawsuits, according to The Washington Post.

The court also ruled against in-house Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) tribunals, and it rejected an air-quality initiative spearheaded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the appeals process.

The court also ruled to allow emergency abortions in Idaho while the case is processed by the courts.

But other rulings, including on whether Trump is immune in his federal election interference case, will have to wait for another day.

The court usually ends its term in June but this year, it will continue into July.

‘Do not normalize him’: Former Republican Rep lashes out at Trump

Thursday 27 June 2024 18:15 , Gustaf Kilander

Former Republican Illinois congressman Joe Walsh lashed out at Trump on X on Thursday morning ahead of the debate.

“Do not normalize him. He lies as he breathes,” he wrote. “He’s the only president in American history who lost an election and refused to concede. He tried to overthrow an American election.”

He added: “I don’t care about his debate strategy. I don’t care about his VP pick. Do not normalize him.”

Mitch McConnell defies Trump by admitting Biden is a ‘good guy’

Thursday 27 June 2024 17:45 , Gustaf Kilander

Outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s floundering relationship with former President Donald Trump isn’t about to recover any time soon.

While McConnell has endorsed Trump, he recently broke with the leader of his party, saying that President Joe Biden is a “good guy.”

“I know Joe Biden pretty well. He’s a good guy, I like him personally,” McConnell told and audience in Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday, according to The Hill.

McConnell and Biden spent decades together in the Senate and Biden would often be dispatched by President Barack Obama to deal with congressional Republicans during his time as vice president.

But the Republican senate leader also said, “I never thought he was moderate in the Senate, but he ran as a moderate.”

He added: “But as soon as the president got elected, he pretty much signed up with the far left of the Democratic Party, which has created another set of a problem for all of you who are in business.”

“This has been a regulatory nightmare by this administration,” he claimed.

Biden says Border Patrol endorsed him. They say different

03:39 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden said the US border patrol endorsed him during Thursday’s presidential debate — but the Border Patrol union says differently.

John Bowden reports.

Biden says Border Patrol endorsed him. They say different

Trump launches last-ditch attack against Biden ahead of debate

Thursday 27 June 2024 17:15 , Joe Sommerlad

If you missed this earlier, Trump has shared a scathing anti-Biden video in a last-ditch attack on the president before tonight’s debate, branding his enemy as sleep-inducingly boring.

James Liddell reports.

Trump launches last-ditch attack against Biden ahead of debate

Clinton warns debating Trump means facing a blizzard ‘nonsense’ and ‘blather’

Thursday 27 June 2024 16:45 , Joe Sommerlad

Hillary Clinton, the former US first lady and secretary of state who has debated both of tonight’s combatants, took to the pages of The New York Times this week for an op-ed in which she advised Biden on what to watch out for from Trump.

Here’s Kelly Rissman on what she had to say.

Hillary Clinton previews Trump-Biden debate: ‘He starts with nonsense’

Biden campaign tries to use Trump’s second-term blueprint against him as debate looms

Thursday 27 June 2024 16:21 , Andrew Feinberg in Atlanta, Georgia

With just hours to go until President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump meet for their first debate in four years, Biden’s campaign is looking to use the massive amounts of attention being lavished on the rhetorical prizefight to remind voters of Trumpworld’s plan to reshape government in the felonious ex-president’s image should he be returned to the White House next year.

The Biden campaign is rolling out a seven-figure paid digital and print-media campaign, which includes homepage takeovers at Buzzfeed, USA Today, CNN, El Tiempo Latino, Telemundo, theGrio, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution to highlight what they describe as “the dangers of electing Trump to a second term.”

The president’s campaign is also launching a new website that takes aim at Project 2025, the blueprint for a second Trump term that has been put forth by the right-wing Heritage Foundation think tank.

Biden campaign tries to use Trump’s second-term blueprint against him as debate looms

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website