U.S. President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump recently concluded their CNN presidential debate, which elicited a wide range of reactions. Trump’s performance was marked by his typical rhetoric, which was full of conspiracies, lies and blame. Meanwhile, Biden struggled to counter these claims, appearing as his critics describe—frail and unwell.

In a more substantive debate, Biden might have emerged victorious. He made efforts to refute Trump’s falsehoods and exaggerations about his administration’s successes. Despite his determination, Biden’s frequent stuttering and coughing, exacerbated by a known cold, detracted from his message. This unfortunate display of vulnerability played into Trump’s narrative of Biden being a “sick, old man,” potentially swaying more voters towards Trump.

The aftermath of the debate saw harsh and often brutal reactions against Biden. Many viewers were unaware of Biden’s cold, and his appearance negatively impacted their perception of his capabilities. Even staunch Biden supporters expressed concerns, acknowledging that his debate performance did not inspire the confidence needed to firmly position him as the Democrats’ best hope against Trump.

Everyone’s asking: Will Biden finally accept the truth, allow the Democrats to regroup, and decide who to field against Trump?

For further details, refer to the following sources:

• CNN Debate Highlights
• Voter Reactions
• Van Jones’ Reaction