Trump-Biden debate: Little new insight into policy goals

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Last updated: Friday, June 28, 2024 4:32AM GMT
President Debate spurs concerns over Biden's reelection chances
In a historic clash of personality and policy, Joe Biden and Donald Trump took the stage for the first presidential debate of the 2024 election.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in Thursday's presidential debate.

Hosted by CNN, it was the earliest-ever debate in a presidential race, taking place before the Republican and Democratic conventions in July and August -- when both Trump and Biden will officially accept their party's nominations.

Jun 28, 2024, 1:48 AM GMT

Fact-checking the first 2024 Presidential Debate

ABC News is fact-checking both Biden and Trump's claims in real time.

MORE | Fact-checking the first 2024 Presidential Debate between Donald Trump, Joe Biden

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Jun 28, 2024, 2:07 AM GMT

Trump deflects when asked about Jan. 6, violating oath

Debate questions are turning to Jan. 6, 2021, when supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol during the certification of the Electoral College vote count.

Trump was asked by host Jake Tapper whether he violated his oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

Asked about the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump quickly pivoted to immigration and taxes. Pressed on his role, he said he encouraged people to act "peacefully and patriotically," then attacked former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The rioters on Jan. 6 engaged in hand-to-hand combat with police and used makeshift weapons, including flagpoles, a table leg, hockey stick and crutch, to attack officers. Police officers were bruised and bloodied as they were dragged into the crowd and beaten. One officer was crushed in a doorframe and another suffered a heart attack after a rioter pressed a stun gun against his neck and repeatedly shocked him.

More than 1,400 people have been charged with federal offenses stemming from the riot. Of those, more than 850 have guilty people have pleaded guilty to crimes, including seditious conspiracy and assaulting police officers. About 200 others have been convicted at trial.

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Jun 28, 2024, 1:50 AM GMT

Biden pushes back on Trump's NATO comments

Joe Biden pushed back at Donald Trump bragging about pushing European allies to put more money into defense. "This is a guy who wants to pull out of NATO," Biden said, adding that he "got 50 other nations" to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion.

Biden forcefully responded to Trump's NATO comments, saying: "He has no idea what the hell he's talking about."

About 6 in 10 Americans see NATO membership as a very or somewhat good thing for the U.S., while about one-quarter say it's neither good nor bad and only about 1 in 10 say it's very or somewhat bad, according to an AP-NORC poll conducted in February.

Jun 28, 2024, 1:48 AM GMT

Fact-checking the first 2024 Presidential Debate

ABC News is fact-checking both Biden and Trump's claims in real time.

MORE | Fact-checking the first 2024 Presidential Debate between Donald Trump, Joe Biden

President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
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Jun 28, 2024, 1:39 AM GMT

Trump makes false claims Democrats support killing babies after birth

During the debate, Trump claimed that claimed that Democrats "support abortion up to and even beyond the ninth month, and contended that some Democratic states have had such a stance.

Democrats have never advocated for killing a baby after it is born as this would be murder, which is illegal in every state. Nine states have no abortion restrictions in place; however, it should be noted that late-term abortions are exceedingly rare, representing 1%, according to KFF.