MIAMI – President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump did not shake hands and stood about 8 feet apart on the debate stage on Thursday night in Atlanta.
Republicans and Democrats watched it all closely during parties at theaters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava joined the Democrats at the Nite Owl Drive-In, at 1400 NE Miami Place.
Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones was also there and said Biden didn’t have much to prove, while Trump just gave a “bunch of lip service,” during the 90-minute debate.
“[Biden] has shown us what investments look like,” Jones said.
The Broward Young Republicans held a watch party at the Savor Cinema, at 503 SE 6 St., in Fort Lauderdale. The consensus there was that Trump was victorious.
From the viewers’ perspective, Biden, 81, stood on the podium on the right and Trump, 78, on the left. There was a mute button and there wasn’t an audience.
Biden and Trump agreed to follow CNN’s rules including not interacting with their campaign staff during the debate and not having prepared notes or props on stage. They were only allowed to have a pen, a pad, and a bottle of water supplied by CNN.
After a coin toss, Biden and Trump agreed to take turns on their 2-minute closing statements with Biden starting and Trump closing. Biden’s voice was raspy.
IMMIGRATION
Trump said the immigrants crossing the border are from “mental institutions” and “insane asylums” and then housed in “luxury hotels” while veterans are on the street. Trump claims he “had the safest border in history.”
Biden: “There are 40% fewer people coming across the border illegally.”
ABORTION
Biden: “If I’m re-elected, I’m going to restore Roe v. Wade.”
Trump said he supports abortion ban exceptions “for rape, incest and the life of the mother.”
RUSSIAN-UKRAINE WAR
Biden said he “got 50 other nations” to support Ukraine.
Trump: “If we had a real president, a president that knew that was respected by Putin, he would have never ... invaded Ukraine.”
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Biden: “We saved Israel.”
Trump on the possibility of an independent Palestinian state: “I would have to see.”
ECONOMY
Trump: “Inflation is killing our country.”
Biden: “Trump is the only president besides Herbert Hoover who left office with fewer jobs than when he began.”
PERSONAL ATTACKS
Trump: “He’s not equipped to be president. You know it and I know it.”
Biden: “The only person on this stage that’s a convicted felon is the man I’m looking at right now.”
Biden accused Trump of having sex with a porn star while his wife was pregnant. Trump said, “I didn’t have sex with a porn star.”