Washington D.C.
US President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump sparred during the first presidential debate ahead of the November presidential elections. An ageing Joe Biden, 81, just three years older than his challenger Donald Trump, struggled as Trump delivered some of the most damaging attacks on the veteran Democrat.
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US presidential debate 2024: Top quotes
1. 'You have the morals of an alley cat': US President Joe Biden said while taking a dig at Donald Trump over Stormy Daniels hush money case. Biden said that the former president had "sex with a porn star when his wife was pregnant". "First of all, I did not have sex with a porn star," Trump responded while informing that he is going to appeal the verdict of a Manhattan court in the same.
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2. 'We are the most stupid people in the world': Donald Trump said while responding to a question on the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. "On Jan 6 we had a great border, we were energy independence, we were respected all over the world. Then he (Biden) comes in and we are one of the most stupid people across the world." Biden said that no president in the US history has ever spoken like that.
3. 'Zelensky is the greatest salesman in the world': Donald Trump said while responding to the question if he will accept Russian President Vladimir Putin's terms to end the war in Ukraine. "Putin's terms are not acceptable. This war was never to be started. He gave Ukraine $200bn. Zelensky turns out to be the greatest salesman," Trump said.
4. 'It's Biden migrant crime': Donald Trump termed the rise in crimes which he linked to the rise in illegal crossings along the southern US border. Biden, meanwhile, went after Trump for "snatching children from their mothers" whilst he was in power.
5. 'Afghanistan exit most embarrassing day in the history of our country': Donald Trump told Biden at least thrice during the course of the presidential debate. Trump even reasoned that Russian President Vladimir Putin found "courage" to launch an invasion of Ukraine following the disastrous optics that emerged out of the US' exit from Afghanistan in August 2021.
6. 'We are closer to World War III': Donald Trump claimed that the Biden administration is driving the world towards a third World War. "We are closer to World War III and he is driving us there."
7. 'The world is envious of us': Joe Biden hit out at Trump for describing the US as a "failing country". "No president in the US history has talked about this country like that. The world is envious of us," Biden said.