From Jan. 6 to golf: Key moments and arguments from the first presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in the first of two presidential debates in Atlanta Thursday.
CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash asked the presidential frontrunners about a wide range of issues including inflation, foreign policy and democracy. The candidates discussed policy but also didn’t shy away from attacking one another during the 90-minute debate.
From gaffes to insults, here is a look at the key moments and visuals from debate night:
Skipping a handshake
Biden entered the debate stage first waving and saying, “Hi folks, how are ya?” Trump walked out second with a frown. Both immediately approached their podiums, foregoing a handshake, a departure from debate tradition.
A handshake between candidates was the norm for presidential debates before Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton abstained from one during the 2016 election cycle.
Biden freezing during a healthcare discussion
Biden froze while discussing healthcare, prompting a smile from Trump. Biden stumbled over his words saying, “making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the COVID, excuse me, dealing with everything we have to do with, look, if we finally beat Medicare.”
Trump jumped on the gaffe saying Biden did beat Medicare.
“He beat it to death,” Trump said. “He will wipe out Medicare, so he was right in the way he finished that sentence.”
'You're the sucker. You're the loser.'
The most heated exchange of the night came when Biden brought up reports that Trump described U.S. veterans as “suckers” and “losers.” Biden invoked the military history of his son Beau Biden, who served in Iraq.
“My son was not a loser. He's not a sucker,” Biden said. “You're the sucker. You're the loser.”
Trump denied making such comments and demanded an apology from Biden, who replied, “not a chance.”
More: Presidential debate fact check: What Trump, Biden got right (and wrong)
Fighting over who is to blame for Jan. 6
Trump refused to take accountability for the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, instead attempting to shift blame to former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. He appeared to imply those who stormed the U.S. Capitol were innocent, telling Biden, “you ought to be ashamed of yourself” because some are facing prison time.
Biden criticized Trump's behavior that day, saying he encouraged the rioters to go to the Capitol.
“If they’re convicted, he says he wants to commute their sentences,” Biden said. “These people should be in jail. They should be the ones held accountable.”
Sparring over convictions
Trump and Biden also sparred over Trump's recent criminal conviction in his hush money case in New York. Eyeing Trump’s side of the stage, Biden said, “The only person on this stage who is a convicted felon is the man I'm looking at right now.”
Trump took jabs at Hunter Biden’s conviction in federal court and repeated claims that his own criminal cases are part of a “witch hunt.”
“I did nothing wrong,” Trump said. “We have a system that’s rigged and disgusting.”
A presidential golf match?
A conversation about the presidential frontrunners' health and cognitive ability spiraled into a tangent about golf.
"I'm in very good health. I just won two club championships," Trump said. "To do that, you have to be quite smart, and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way. He doesn't do it. He can't hit a ball 50 yards."
"I'd be happy to have a driving contest with him. I got my handicap when I was vice president down to a six," Biden replied. "I'd be happy to play golf with you if you carry your own bag. Think you can do it?"
The argument about golf scores ended with Trump saying, "let's not act like children."
Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 6 key moments from the first Trump-Biden presidential debate
