On Thursday night, President Joe Biden attempted to prove during a debate with former President Donald Trump that he does not have dementia and is still capable of continuing his presidency.
However, this attempt seemed unsuccessful.
Biden's voice was hoarse, his speech was stammering, and he repeatedly stumbled over his words, providing answers that were sometimes vague and even appeared to lose his train of thought.
During the 90-minute debate, both parties engaged in personal attacks, which deepened external speculation about Biden's health.
Bloomberg commented that Trump brought energy and lies, while Biden was caught in a passive position.
The report pointed out that Biden often mumbled and cited incorrect data and facts.
Although Trump's responses were filled with exaggerations and lies, and he refused to commit to accepting last year's election results, Biden failed to effectively capitalize on these opportunities and also failed to dodge Trump's attacks successfully.
The Associated Press mentioned in an analysis article that although Trump did not completely win, Biden's performance might have already collapsed. The article stated, "A little thought makes it clear that Trump may come to power again."
CNN called this debate "a bad night for Biden," suggesting that his path to re-election is now fraught with crisis.
Democrats are panicking about this, even considering whether a different candidate should run.
CNN commented that this debate could become the most decisive presidential debate in history, noting that if Biden loses the election in November, history will remember that ten minutes of this debate destroyed a president's hope for re-election.
British media also made harsh criticisms of this debate. Sky News believed that Biden's performance in the debate was terrible, if not the worst, then one of the worst in the history of US presidents.
The Financial Times thought that after this debate, many Democrats might lose sleep over it.
Reuters pointed out that after the debate ended, people's emotions changed significantly, and it was generally believed that if they had not yet prepared for Trump's re-election, now was the time to start.
US political analyst Noctis Draven wrote on social media, "America is forced to choose between two old men who are both unfit for the job and far beyond their prime."
"So, in my opinion, regardless of what happens, we are indeed facing dark days. God bless us."
Biden's health has always been a focus of media and public attention.
His age and physical condition have undoubtedly become a significant issue during his re-election campaign.
Although Biden and his team repeatedly emphasize that his health is good and he is capable of leading the country, every public mistake gets magnified, becoming a basis for questioning his ability.
During this debate, Biden's frequent stammering and fatigued appearance undoubtedly worried his supporters.
In contrast, despite Trump's controversial and inaccurate statements, his performance seemed more confident and firm, which, to some extent, reinforced public doubts about Biden's health.
Biden's poor performance in the debate not only gave the Republicans a reason to attack but also caused anxiety within the Democratic Party.
Many Democrats are beginning to reflect on whether other candidates should be considered before the November election to ensure victory against Trump.
After all, in the election four years ago, Trump had already proven his strong debating and campaigning abilities. If Biden cannot improve his performance in the coming time, the Democrats will face significant risks.
Some Democrats even started calling for Biden to consider stepping aside for Vice President Kamala Harris, believing her performance in debates and campaigns might have more advantages.
However, this call also faces huge challenges since replacing a candidate close to the election would bring a series of complex legal and procedural issues.
Throughout the debate, media reports and comments undoubtedly had a huge impact on public opinion.
Major media outlets provided detailed analysis and comments on Biden's and Trump's performances, significantly influencing public views of both candidates.
Especially mainstream media like CNN and Bloomberg, whose comments and analysis often become the focus of public discussion.
Media reports are not just summaries of the debate content but also predictions of the future performances of the two candidates.
In this debate, the media generally believed Biden's performance was poor, and this negative evaluation undoubtedly negatively impacted his re-election prospects.
This debate is not just a domestic political event in the US but also attracted widespread international attention.
Media and politicians from various countries analyzed and commented on the performances of Biden and Trump from different angles.
British media generally thought Biden's performance was disappointing, while Trump showed stronger competitiveness.
Leaders from some European countries began to worry that if Trump gets re-elected, future US-Europe relations will face greater uncertainty and challenges.
Meanwhile, Asian media also expressed concern about Biden's health.
Media from China, Japan, and South Korea reported on the debate's situation and evaluated Biden's performance.
Asian countries generally hope to see a stable and healthy US leader to ensure stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Regardless of the debate's outcome, both Biden and Trump will face a series of campaign activities and debates in the future.
For Biden, he needs to demonstrate stronger leadership and health in future activities to dispel public doubts about his abilities.
For Trump, he needs to maintain his campaign advantage and further garner voter support.
In the coming months, the political situation in the US will become more tense and complicated.
Every public appearance and speech by the two candidates will become the focus of media and public attention.
In such a context, both Biden and Trump need to be more cautious and strategic in their campaign activities to ensure victory in the November election.
This debate not only brought Biden's health back into focus but also made his re-election prospects more uncertain.
Regardless of the outcome, the future of American politics will face severe challenges.
In the coming months, both Biden and Trump need to go all out to win the support and trust of voters to ensure victory in the November election.
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