Biden, 81, and Trump, 78, were under pressure to demonstrate their mastery of the issues and avoid verbal missteps as he seeks a breakthrough moment in a race that polls show has been deadlocked for months.
Biden has faced concerns about his age and mental acuity, while Trump’s incendiary rhetoric and numerous legal troubles remain a vulnerability.
As the debate progressed, Biden seemed to find his rhythm, launching more focused attacks. Midway through the debate, she brought up Trump’s conviction for covering up payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, calling him a “criminal.”
In response, Trump cited the recent conviction of Biden’s son, Hunter, for lying about his drug use to buy a gun.
When asked about the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by a mob of his supporters, the former president refused to accept any responsibility and claimed that many of those arrested were innocent.
“This guy has no sense of American democracy,” Biden responded.
