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For 90 minutes on Thursday night, CNN hosted the first presidential debate between former Republican President Donald Trump, 78, and Democratic President Joe Biden, 81. The debate featured sharp exchanges on inflation, immigration, abortion rights, and foreign policy. In the televised debate, the candidates aimed to persuade voters ahead of the upcoming election on November 5.

The debate enforced strict speaking limits, prohibit notes, and take place without an audience to ensure no reactions.

Who actually won the debate, Donald Trump or Joe Biden?

According to a CNN poll aired after the debate, 67% of viewers thought Trump won, while 33% believed Biden was the winner. In contrast, CNN’s poll after the final 2020 presidential debate indicated that 53% of viewers felt Biden won, compared to 39% who thought Trump won.

The voters said that they “have no real confidence in Biden’s ability to lead the country”, reported CNN.

Prior to the first presidential debate of 2024, 55% of voters expected Trump to deliver a better performance than Biden.

TV debates have had a tremendous impact on candidates’ fortunes, right from the first televised debate in 1960 when JF Kennedy trumped Richard Nixon. That TV debate was considered crucial in Kennedy beating the favourite Nixon in the polls that year.

The New York Times also said that Trump emerged as the winner of the first presidential debate.

The Times opined that Trump was victorious in the debate, with columnist Josh Barro stating, “Joe Biden failed at his key task: showing voters he’s still cut out for the presidency. In the first 20 minutes, he was especially disastrous: mumbling, at times incoherent, and seeming really, really old. Trump seemed more normal than usual — enough for a clear win.”

Michelle Goldberg, a columnist and contributor for The New York Times, commented, “Trump, God help us. He spouted a fire hose of preposterous lies, but Biden was too incoherent to capitalise on any of it. Biden looked ancient and sounded lost. There will now be a new chorus of cries for him to drop out, and I’ll be joining it.”

On X (formerly Twitter), observers noted Trump’s strong performance and thorough answers, contrasting with Biden’s perceived confusion during the debate.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, CNN political commentator, wrote, “CNN Flash poll: 57% of viewers of tonight’s debate have NO confidence in Biden’s ability to lead the country. Stunning number from voters who witnessed his performance with their own eyes.”

Former CNN commentator Chris Cillizza added, “Look. This debate was a total and complete disaster for Biden. He looked old. His answers trailed off repeatedly. He was hard to understand. He would stop mid-sentence and move on to something else. I NEVER thought he would be this bad. Stunning. Truly.”

Biden’s team countered claims that he lost the debate, with Vice President Kamala Harris telling CNN, “It was a slow start but a strong finish,” reported Fox News.

First Lady Jill Biden praised the president on stage after the debate, saying, “Joe, you did such a good job! You answered every question and knew all the facts.”

Several Democratic Party leaders expressed deep concern over Biden’s performance in the debate.

Jay Surdukowski, an attorney and Democratic activist from New Hampshire, told Politico, “Biden is toast – calling it now.”

Though this is the first of the presidential debates and Biden has chances of springing back, the results for now stand at Trump: 1 and Biden: 0.