The first presidential debate of the 2024 elections took place in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024, with former US President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden participating [366900b9]. Organized by CNN, it marked the first time in US history that a current and former president faced each other in a debate [1f318bdf] [3ee541fd]. During the debate, the candidates exchanged accusations and made claims on various topics, including veterans' issues, border security, the American economy, and inflation. Biden criticized Trump's management of the economy and foreign policy, while Trump attacked Biden's handling of COVID-19 and the economy. They also discussed abortion, immigration, foreign policy, and the January 6th Capitol riots [1f318bdf] [3ee541fd].
Fact-checking was an important part of the debate, with several claims made by both candidates being scrutinized. Trump falsely claimed to have had 'the greatest economy in history' during his presidency, while Biden falsely claimed that he is the only president this century without any troops dying. Trump also made false claims about migrant crime and drug seizures at the border, while Biden falsely claimed that inflation was 9% when he came to office [f14bf9b6] [c0211423] [fffb722e] [1f318bdf] [3ee541fd].
The debate received mixed reactions from the American public. According to a CNN poll, two-thirds of Americans believed Trump won the debate, while one-third thought Biden won. The article from newmatilda.com criticized the media coverage of the debate, arguing that the focus should be on Trump's falsehoods rather than Biden's performance [989c3d09] [03d1b3f5].
CNN, the organizer of the debate, faced criticism for the absence of real-time fact-checking during the event. However, CNN defended its role, stating that the moderators' job is to present questions to the candidates and facilitate the debate, while fact-checking is the responsibility of the candidates themselves. Post-debate fact-checking coverage was provided, with Trump being called out more than Biden. The moderators, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, received praise from both sides of the political spectrum for their handling of the debate [22d12668] [1f318bdf] [3ee541fd].
Since the debate, both Trump and Biden have continued to engage in political discourse on social media. Biden has criticized Trump for falsely thinking he had the greatest economy in the world and has also commented on the US Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity. Trump's supporters argue that economically their lives were easier under his presidency, citing record-low unemployment and historic economic growth [99dd3ab1].
Overall, the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections was a contentious event, with both candidates making claims and accusations. Fact-checking played a crucial role in scrutinizing these claims, revealing falsehoods on both sides. The debate received mixed reactions from the American public, with CNN facing criticism for the absence of real-time fact-checking. Trump and Biden have continued to engage in political discourse on social media following the debate [366900b9].