Donald Trump in Presidential Debate at CNN headquarters, Atlanta GA


On Foreign Policy: Throughout the entire world we're no longer respected

I will tell you, throughout the entire world, we're no longer respected as a country. They don't respect our leadership. They don't respect the United States anymore. We're like a Third World nation between weaponization of his election, trying to go after his political opponent. All of the things he's done. We've become like a Third World nation, and it's a shame.
Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Government Reform: Will accept results if election is "fair and legal and good"

Q: Will you accept the results of the election regardless of who wins? Yes or no, please?

TRUMP: If it's a fair and legal and good election--absolutely. I would have much rather accepted these but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous that if you want, we'll have a news conference on it in a week or we'll have another one of these in a week. But I will absolutely--there's nothing I'd rather do.

BIDEN: I doubt whether you'll accept it because you're such a whiner. The idea if you lose again, you're accepting anything, you can't stand the loss. Something snapped in you when you lost the last time.

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Abortion: I believe in exceptions for rape, incest, and maternal life

Like Ronald Reagan, I believe in the exceptions. Some people, you have to follow your heart, some people don't believe in that. But I believe in the exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. I think it's very important. Some people don't.

The problem [pro-choice Democrats] have is they're radical because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth. If you look at the former governor of Virginia, he was willing to do this. He said, "we'll put the baby aside and we'll determine what we do with the baby." Meaning, "we'll kill the baby."

So that means he can take the life of the baby in the ninth month and even after birth, because some states--Democrat-run--take it after birth. Again, the former governor of Virginia: "put the baby down, then we decide what to do with it." So he's willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb in the 9th month and kill the baby. [See FactCheck: no state allows abortion after birth].

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Abortion: FactCheck: No, Democrats don't allow abortion after birth

Trump said about pro-choice Democrats: "They will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth. Some states--Democrat-run--take the life of the baby in the ninth month and even after birth." Is that true? A FactCheck from WLRN concluded "No" during the GOP primaries (July 25, 2023):

[Governor Ron DeSantis claimed in a 2023 interview], "In some liberal states, you actually have post-birth abortions and I think that's wrong." The post-birth abortion claim is something that Republicans and anti-abortion activists have repeated for years, before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. The claim was wrong then, and it is wrong now: Willfully terminating a newborn's life is not legal in any state. There is not a state, or probably any place in the world, that would allow someone to murder an infant after they were born.

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Corporations: Cutting corporate tax to 21% spurred COVID economy

Q: Your administration approved $8.4 trillion in new debt. While so far, President Biden's has approved $4.3 trillion in new debt. Many of the tax cuts that you signed into law are set to expire next year. You want to extend them and go even further, you say. With the U.S. facing trillion-dollar deficits and record debt, why should top earners and corporations pay even less in taxes than they do now?

TRUMP: Because the tax cuts spurred the greatest economy that we've ever seen just prior to COVID, and even after COVID. It was so strong that we were able to get through COVID much better than just about any other country. Now, the corporate tax was cut down to 21% from 39%, plus beyond that, we took in more revenue with much less tax and companies were bringing back trillions of dollars back into our country. The country was going like never before. We were ready to start paying down debt.

BIDEN: [Taxing] a 1,000 billionaires would raise $500 billion dollars. We'd be able to wipe out his debt.

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Crime: Police support me; Biden called Black people super-predators

BIDEN: We put more police on the street than any administration has. He wants to cut the cops.

TRUMP: Well, let me just go back to what he said about the police, how close the police are to him. Almost every police group in the nation from every state is supporting Donald J. Trump, almost every police group. And what he has done to the black population is horrible, including the fact that for 10 years he called them "super-predators"--in the 1990s--we can't forget that. "Super-predators" was his name. And he called it to them for 10 [years], and they've taken great offense at it, and now they see it happening.

[See FactCheck: Biden never used the term "super-predators" except to say that most Black youth were not "super-predators"].

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Crime: FactCheck: Biden said "most youth aren't super-predators"

Trump said in debating Biden, "for 10 years he called them 'super-predators'." Did Biden use that term to describe Black youth? No, according to a Vox.com FactCheck:

(Vox.com, Oct 23, 2020); President Trump has been pushing the lie that his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, called Black people "super-predators"-- but there's no record of him doing so. During the final 2020 presidential debate, Trump repeated this accusation: "[Biden] in 1994, did such harm to the Black community and they were called, and he called them, 'super-predators' and he said that, he said it, 'super-predators,'" Trump said. In 1993 remarks given by Biden on the Senate floor, Biden referred to "predators on our streets that society has in fact, in part because of its neglect, created." however, the only reported time Biden has used the term "super-predator" is in a 1997 hearing when he said most youth WEREN'T "the so-called 'super-predators.'"

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Free Trade: FactCheck: Tariffs on China result in higher consumer prices

Asked whether tariffs on China would increase prices, Trump responded, "It's not going to drive them higher." Biden detailed, :"Economists say that's going to cost the average American $2,500 a year and more, because they're going to have to pay the difference in food and all the things that are very important." Do tariffs cause higher prices? The Tax Foundation agrees with Biden, that tariff fees are passed on to consumers:

(TaxFoundation.org, "Who Really Pays the Tariffs?," Dec. 15, 2021): "When the Trump administration imposed tariffs on various imports in 2018, the stated purpose was to boost U.S. industries and punish foreign exporters. But rather than hurting foreign exporters, the economic evidence shows it is American firms and consumers hardest hit by the Trump tariffs. The tariffs resulted in higher prices for a wide variety of goods that U.S. consumers and businesses purchase." 

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Free Trade: 10% tariffs on China will reduce our deficit tremendously

Q: You want to impose a 10% tariff on all goods coming into the U.S. How will you ensure that that doesn't drive prices even higher?

TRUMP: It's not going to drive them higher. It's just going to cause countries that have been ripping us off for years, like China--and many others, in all fairness to China--it's going to just force them to pay us a lot of money, reduce our deficit tremendously, and give us a lot of power for other things.

BIDEN: But this tariff--these 10 percent tariffs, everything coming into the country, you know what the economists say? That's going to cost the average American $2,500 a year and more, because they're going to have to pay the difference in food and all the things that are very important. You have not, in fact, made any progress with China. We are [now, under the Biden administration, at] the lowest trade deficit with China since 2010.

[See FactCheck that economists agree that tariffs on China will increase consumer prices].

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Homeland Security: Did not attend veteran cemetery in France while president

BIDEN: I was recently in France, and I went to the World War I cemetery [Trump] refused to go to. He [said], "I don't want to go in there because they're a bunch of losers and suckers."

TRUMP: First of all, that was a made-up quote, "suckers and losers." They made it up. It was in a third-rate magazine that's failing, like many of these magazines [referring to The Atlantic magazine]. He made that up. He put it in commercials. We've notified 'em. We had 19 people that said I didn't say it. Who would say--at a cemetery, talking about our veterans--to think that I would, in front of generals and others, say "suckers and losers"--we have 19 people that said it was never said by me. It was made up by him.

BIDEN: You had a 4-star general stand at your side, who was on your staff, who said you said it, period [referring to John Kelly].

TRUMP: Biden was so bad with Afghanistan--he should have fired those generals like I fired the one that you mentioned [General John Kelly].

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Homeland Security: FactCheck: Media did report Trump saying military are losers

Biden claimed that Trump said, "I don't want to go in [to a military cemetery in France] because they're a bunch of losers and suckers." Trump responded, "That was a made-up quote, 'suckers and losers'." Who's right? A FactCheck from The Hill (a conservative online magazine) concludes that The Atlantic magazine did publish that phrase in 2020, and General John Kelly confirmed it. Biden correctly related those facts, but Trump's claim could still be correct if The Atlantic or John Kelly made it up:

THE HILL (June 10, 2024): Trump again denied referring to dead U.S. soldiers as "suckers" and "losers". The Atlantic reported in 2020 that Trump asked staffers, "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers." The magazine reported Trump later referred to war dead as "suckers" for getting killed. While Trump has denied making the remarks, his former chief of staff, John Kelly, later corroborated the magazine's account.

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Principles & Values: Nancy Pelosi took responsibility for Jan. 6 riots, not me

Q: What do you say to those voters who believe that you violated your constitutional oath through your inaction on Jan. 6th, 2021?

TRUMP: I said 'peacefully and patriotically.' And Nancy Pelosi [said] "oh, no, it's my responsibility; I was responsible for this." Because I offered them 10,000 soldiers or National Guard. And she turned them down. Everybody was saying they're going to be there on January 6th. And I said, "That's a lot of people coming; they ought to have some National Guard." And I offered it to her. And she now admits that she turned it down [in a videotape analyzed by Politico.com]. The same day, she said, "I take full responsibility for January 6th."

BIDEN: He sat in the Oval Office for three hours, being begged by his vice president and Republican colleagues to call for a stop. Instead, he talked about these people being patriots.

TRUMP: Nancy Pelosi said it was her responsibility, not mine. She said that loud and clear. [See FactCheck; Pelosi didn't say that].

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Principles & Values: Rated worst president by panel of 159 scholars

TRUMP about Biden: His presidency, without question, the worst president, the worst presidency in the history of our country.

BIDEN about TRUMP: And by the way, worst president in history. 159 presidential scholars voted him the worst president in the history of the United States of America.

TRUMP about Biden: He is the worst president. He just said it about me because I said it. But look, he's the worst president in the history of our country. He's destroyed our country.

BIDEN about TRUMP: Talking about worst presidents--I wasn't joking--look it up. Go online. 159 or 158, don't hold me the exact number, presidential historians. They've had meetings and they voted who's the worst president in American history. One through best to worst. They said he was the worst in all of American history. That's a fact. That's not conjecture. He can argue they're wrong, but that's what they voted.

[See FactCheck; Biden is citing a survey; Trump is expressing an opinion].

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Principles & Values: FactCheck: Lost dozens of court cases about 2020 election

Trump said, "I will accept loss if it's a fair election." Biden responded, "You're a whiner who lost every single case" about the 2020 election. Is that true,? This FactCheck reiterates that Trump was heard in court and lost:

(Robert Yoon in Associated Press 8/27/23): Trump is flooding the airwaves with distortions, misinformation and unfounded conspiracy theories about his defeat. The Trump campaign and its backers pursued numerous legal challenges to the election in court and alleged a variety of voter fraud and misconduct. The cases were heard and roundly rejected by dozens of courts at both state and federal levels, including by judges whom Trump appointed. One was on a federal panel that declined a request to stop Pennsylvania from certifying its results, saying, "Ballots, not lawyers' briefs, decide elections." The U.S. Supreme Court also rejected several efforts in the weeks after Election Day to overturn the election results in various battleground states that Biden won.

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Social Security: Migrants coming in will destroy Medicare & Social Security

TRUMP: [Biden is] destroying Medicare because all of these people are coming in, they're putting them on Medicare. They're putting them on Social Security. They're going to destroy Social Security. This man is going to single-handedly destroy Social Security. These millions and millions of people coming in, they're trying to put them on Social Security. He will wipe out Social Security. He will wipe out Medicare. I took care of the seniors. What he is doing is destroying all of our medical programs because the migrants coming in. They want everybody. And look, I have the biggest heart on the stage. I guarantee you that. And I want to take care of people. But, we're destroying our country. They're taking over our schools, our hospitals, and they're going to be taking over Social Security. He is destroying Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. [See FactCheck: undocumented immigrants do not receive Social Security benefits].
Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Social Security: FactCheck: No,undocumented immigrants can't collect benefits

Trump said, "Millions of people coming in, they're trying to put them on Social Security. He will wipe out Social Security." Is it true that immigrants could wipe out the Trust Fund by collecting benefits? No, according to this FactCheck from CNBC (July 30, 2023):

"Undocumented immigrants are not legally permitted to receive Social Security benefits and few actually do. When you apply for a job, you're required to provide your Social Security number. Undocumented immigrants, who don't have an Social Security number, may choose to use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or an ITIN. Those who use an ITIN cannot receive Social Security retirement benefits [but still must pay taxes]. Sometimes undocumented immigrants do receive retirement benefits by using a [borrowed or fake] Social Security number. A 2013 report found that $1 billion worth of retirement benefits were paid out to undocumented immigrants. However, undocumented immigrants paid a whopping $13 billion in payroll taxes."

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Abortion: I will not block abortion medication: abortion pill ok

Q: As president, would you block abortion medication?

TRUMP: First of all, the Supreme Court just approved the abortion pill. And I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it.

BIDEN: The fact is that the vast majority of constitutional scholars supported Roe when it was decided. And this is the guy [Trump] who says the states should be able to have it. We're in a state where in six weeks, you don't even know whether you're pregnant or not, but you cannot see the doctor or have your--and have him decide on what your circumstances are, whether you need help. The idea that states are able to do this is a little like saying, we're going to turn civil rights back to the states. Let each state have a different rule.

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On Jobs: Immigrants are taking black jobs and Hispanic jobs

BIDEN [to Trump]: We find that the choice that black families have to make relative to childcare is incredibly difficult. When we did the first major piece of legislation in the past, I was able to reduce black childcare costs. I cut them in half. We've got to make sure we provide for childcare costs. We've got to make sure--because when you provide that childcare protections, you increase economic growth because more people can be in the job market.

TRUMP: He caused inflation. As sure as you're sitting there, the fact is that his big kill on the black people is the millions of people that he's allowed to come in through the border. They're taking black jobs now and it could be 18. It could be 19 and even 20 million people. They're taking black jobs and they're taking Hispanic jobs and you haven't seen it yet, but you're going to see something that's going to be the worst in our history.

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

On War & Peace: I think Biden encouraged Russia to invade Ukraine

Q: What can be done about the Ukraine-Russia war?

TRUMP: As far as Russia and Ukraine, if we had a real president, a president that knew--that was respected by Putin, he would have never--he would have never invaded Ukraine. A lot of people are dead right now, much more than people know. You know, they talk about numbers. You can double those numbers, maybe triple those numbers. [Biden] did nothing to stop it. In fact, I think he encouraged Russia from going in.

Q: Are Putin's terms acceptable to you, keeping the territory in Ukraine?

TRUMP: No, they're not acceptable. But look, this is a war that never should have started. I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelenskyy as president-elect before I take office on January 20th. I'll have that war settled. People being killed so needlessly, so stupidly, and I will get it settled and I'll get it settled fast before I take office.

Source: First Trump-Biden debate, at CNN in Atlanta Jun 27, 2024

The above quotations are from First Trump-Biden Debate: 2024 Presidential Election.
Click here for main summary page.
Click here for a profile of Donald Trump.
Click here for Donald Trump on all issues.
Donald Trump on other issues:
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
Technology/Infrastructure
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)





Page last updated: Jul 05, 2024