President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump bypassed the handshake and delved straight into the debate on Thursday night. However, viewers at home, active on social media, seemed unimpressed by their initial performances.
Biden, who has long grappled with a stutter since childhood, struggled with a subdued tone and a raspy voice, even coughing during an early exchange in the program. Immediately, audiences on social media expressed concerns about his health, age, and voice quality.
Social media reactions ranged from jokes to genuine frustration and worry. One user humorously remarked, “Biden coughing like Beth in ‘Little Women,’ I’m sure it’s fine,” while others voiced more serious concerns.
“This entire event is a trainwreck. Jake and Dana are invisible, Biden sounds exhausted, and Trump is lying incessantly. No one wins tonight,” wrote another user.
Some viewers were confused by Biden’s apparent underperformance, with one asking, “Hasn’t he been hiding in the woods for a week?????”
CNN later confirmed that Biden “had a cold for the past couple of days” after the 90-minute debate concluded.
