FnF News
FNF News | U.S. Politics
Published: June 27, 2025
By: Khadija Khan, Senior Political Correspondent
CNN Showdown: Biden and Trump Clash in First 2025 Presidential Debate as America Watches
Atlanta, GA — In a broadcast watched by millions live on YouTube and across major networks, President Joe Biden and former President Donald J. Trump faced off Thursday night in the first presidential debate of the 2025 election season, hosted by CNN. It was the clash voters had anticipated for months: a return of the 2020 rivals on a national stage, older, more determined, and no less combative.
Set at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, the debate offered a structured format and a strict microphone cutoff rule that prevented interruptions. But the policy didn’t mute the ideological intensity. The debate, live-streamed at youtube.com/live/gCNeDWCI0vo, was less about new policy announcements and more about political posture, legacy, and trust.
Opening Jabs and Strategy Shifts
The debate opened with a question on the economy, prompting Biden to tout his “recovery gains” and historic investment in green energy and infrastructure.
“We brought inflation down, we created millions of jobs, and we’re rebuilding the middle class,” Biden said, stressing a continuation of his economic plan.
Trump, in turn, countered with a sharp attack, accusing Biden of engineering an artificial recovery, burdening Americans with inflation, and mismanaging global affairs.
“The economy was the best it’s ever been under me. Under Biden, it’s been a disaster, a controlled demolition of the American Dream,” Trump said.
Unlike 2020, Trump maintained a more disciplined tone for most of the debate, avoiding the kind of constant interruptions that drew criticism in previous matchups. Biden, meanwhile, appeared more forceful than in past performances but occasionally faltered on statistics.
Immigration, War, and the World Stage
The candidates clashed sharply on immigration. Biden defended his administration’s “humane and lawful” reforms, while Trump described the border as “a war zone.”
“We had control. Biden opened the floodgates,” Trump said, referencing a rise in border crossings.
The war between Israel and Iran also took center stage. Biden emphasized diplomacy, asserting that “America leads through alliances.” Trump dismissed the administration’s approach as weak, warning, “When I’m president, Tehran and terrorists will think twice.”
On Ukraine, both candidates offered competing visions of deterrence. Biden reaffirmed NATO solidarity. Trump questioned “sending billions” to a war he says lacks a clear endgame.
January 6, Lawfare, and Legacy
Pressed about January 6, Trump deflected responsibility while framing the prosecutions against him as politically motivated.
“It was a protest that got out of hand. The deep state is trying to silence me with fake charges,” he said.
Biden countered with a sharp rebuke, calling Trump “a danger to democracy who stood by while Capitol Police were attacked.”
When asked about age, both candidates — Biden at 82 and Trump at 79 — offered brief quips. Biden said, “Wisdom beats recklessness,” while Trump declared, “I’m stronger now than I was four years ago.”
Key Moments That Dominated Social Media
Several moments from the debate rapidly trended online:
- Trump’s line: “If Biden ran a lemonade stand, it would be bankrupt by sundown.”
- Biden’s comeback: “You can’t tweet your way out of policy failures.”
- The split-screen reaction shots, with Biden grimacing during Trump’s border comments.
- Trump referencing China, saying, “They owned Biden then, and they own him now.”
A Country Still Split
CNN’s post-debate flash poll showed a nearly even split: 49% of viewers thought Trump won, 47% sided with Biden, and 4% remained undecided. Analysts noted that both candidates stuck to their base strategies — Biden appealing to suburban moderates and union voters, Trump doubling down on America First populism.