Biden falters in high-stakes debate, Trump spews falsehoods
The contest was seen as a test of each man's fitness for office.
In a historic clash of personality and policy, Joe Biden and Donald Trump took the stage for the first presidential debate of the 2024 election.
The showdown provided a rare opportunity for both candidates to move the needle in what has been a stubbornly tight race for the White House, but at the end of the night, Biden's halting performance raised new concerns among Democrats and cause Republicans to celebrate.
The debate was a rematch for Biden and Trump, who faced each other twice in 2020, but a first-of-its-kind format and a vastly different political landscape presented new challenges for the two rivals.
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Bitter debate offers little new insight into Biden, Trump policy goals
For the most part, tonight's debate revealed nothing new about what Biden and Trump think on major issues from the economy, immigration, foreign policy and reproductive rights.
Each candidate reiterated positions they've already touted countless times on the campaign stump.
Instead, they largely focused on criticizing each other's past records and lobbing personal attacks.
Trump targets Biden during his closing argument
In his two-minute closing argument, Trump went after Biden's record abroad in a personal attack.
"They don't respect you throughout the world," he said.
Trump said he had the largest tax cut and the largest regulation cuts in history, but the country is now "exploding."
"We're a failing nation, but it's not going to be failing anymore," he said. "We're going to make it great again."
Trump deflects when asked if will accept election results
Trump went to other topics when asked if he would accept the results of the 2024 election and had to be asked the question several times.
The former president finally responded, "If it's a fair and legal and good election absolutely," before adding that he would have accepted the last election if not for "the fraud." There was no evidence of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election.
Biden pushed back that Trump's fraud claims were debunked by courts, telling him, "You can't stand the loss."
"I doubt you'll accept it because you're a whiner," he said.
Biden delivers closing argument
"We have made significant progress from the debacle that was left by President Trump in his last term," Biden said.
Biden then went on to summarize some of his signature policies. On the economy, he vowed he will not raise taxes on anyone making under $400,000 a year and to continue his work to reduce health care costs, child care costs and give families financial breathing room.
"We're going to continue to fight to bring down inflation and give people a break," Biden said in closing.
Candidates prepare for interruptions despite muted mics
Just because their microphones will be turned on only when it's their turn to speak, it doesn't mean there won't be interruptions, and campaign staffers of both candidates are preparing for it.
Since the candidates are still only 8 feet apart, there is a scenario where the viewer may not hear an interruption, but the other candidate and the moderators will.
Advisers from both campaigns told reporters that's something they've acknowledged or discussed in debate preparations.
The Biden campaign said it is hoping the president just flat-out ignores any distractions or comments that Trump makes.
The Trump campaign said it is aware that tonight they could play this both ways: The former president could stay on message when his microphone is turned on but make off-hand comments to irk Biden when his microphone is turned off.
When it comes to the traditional handshake between the candidates before the event, both sides are being coy.
One Biden adviser said, "I wouldn't do it," while an adviser for the Trump campaign responded simply by laughing.
-ABC News' Rachel Scott