The early-summer 2024 debate between vitriolic rivals, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, marked a turning point in the course of the 2024 presidential election. Biden’s lackluster performance culminated in an avalanche of questions surrounding his aptitude, and eventually led to his dramatic withdrawal from the race. On June 27, 2025, America looked back on a debate that had substantially altered political trajectories one year prior.
Due to an unusual twist of events, the highly anticipated second round between Biden and Trump happened early in the election process. Both contenders were nearly guaranteed to secure their party’s nomination. However, prodded by intense social media pressure, they decided to have not one but two debates, the first of which was on the decisive day of June 27, 2024.
The nation watched in surprise as Biden’s performance sparked a wave of critical inquiry about his cognitive abilities, an issue that continues to dog him. Then, less than a month after the fateful debate, on July 21, Biden announced he was terminating his re-election campaign and passed the torch to Kamala Harris, his former Vice President.
Though the Democrats were quick to support Harris, their efforts couldn’t thwart Trump’s eventual victory in November. As we delve into some of the most shared moments from the unforgettable debate, one can’t help but see how it fundamentally upended the 2024 presidential race.
In a rather trivial descent into bickering, the pair clashed over their golfing abilities during a conversation on age-related competency. Trump flaunted his recent club championship wins and boasted about his performance on cognitive tests. Biden reacted by claiming he had reached a golf handicap of six during his time as Vice President.
Biden seized the opportunity to challenge Trump, stating, ‘I’m happy to play golf with you if you carry your own bag. Think you can do it?’ In retaliation, Trump accused Biden of exaggerating his abilities, leading to a back-and-forth exchange that culminated with both men hurling accusations of immaturity.
The most talked-about ‘freeze moment’ took place when Biden held forth on diverse issues such as healthcare, the economy, and the enormous debt incurred during Trump’s administration. Initially, he floated the idea of taxing billionaires more. However, he lost the thread of his argument, and his meandering response, punctuated with a sudden pause, ended with the puzzling phrase: ‘if we finally beat Medicare.’
The age of both candidates had been a contentious point throughout the election. This became the core theme of an acrimonious exchange when both candidates accused each other of failing the nation’s veterans. Trump cast aspersions on Biden’s popularity with soldiers and veterans, claiming that ‘they can’t stand this guy.’
Biden resurrected past controversies, referring to an aged report by the Atlantic from 2020 that claimed Trump had labeled soldiers who died in battles as ‘losers and suckers.’ Despite his attempts to discredit Trump, the authenticity of this report continues to be questioned, with multiple media outlets backing Trump’s denial.
‘I went to the WWI cemetery he refused to go to,’ Biden said, as he sought to portray Trump in a negative light. His account involved a four-star general and an alleged disparaging comment from Trump. Unfortunately for Biden, this feeble attack did little to sway the public opinion.
Despite his best efforts, Biden’s advancement towards a re-election was stymied by harsh criticisms and odious dialogues. His lackluster performance in the June 2024 debate raised alarms about his capabilities to discharge presidential duties, and the questions raised have refused to fade.
Less than a month after Biden’s debate debacle, he capitulated by resigning from his re-election campaign, endorsing Kamala Harris in his stead. Alas, his decision came too late; despite swift endorsement by fellow Democrats, Harris couldn’t prevent Trump’s ascendency to victory.
Looking back, the pivotal 2024 debate was a litmus test for Biden, one that he unfortunately flunked. It revealed his inadequacies, thereby shifting the political climate towards his adversary, Trump, and proving to be instrumental in shaping the outcome of the election.