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.
Top headlines:
WHCA protests pool reporters being barred from debate studio
The White House Correspondents' Association is "deeply concerned" that CNN has barred travel pool reporters from being inside the studio and close to Biden during all of tonight’s historic presidential debate.
Despite "repeated requests" for White House pool access, CNN will allow only one print reporter to enter during a commercial break for a brief observation.
"That is not sufficient in our view and diminishes a core principle of presidential coverage," president of the WHCA Kelly O’Donnell said in a statement Thursday.
"The pool is there for the 'what ifs?' in a world where the unexpected does happen,” O’Donnell said.
-ABC News' Emily Chang
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
Biden, Trump face differing expectations heading into debate
Biden and Trump are navigating different expectations heading into the debate -- though Republicans have largely set the standards for each.
Polls show that voters share concerns about Biden's age (81 years old) and fitness for office, and Republicans have for years cast the president as a dithering man. Showing vitality, as he did during this year's State of the Union, and nimbly mixing it up with Trump, could help alleviate those worries, Democrats told ABC News.
Trump, meanwhile, has been working overtime to set his own expectations. He's repeatedly demeaned CNN -- the host -- to suggest he'll be debating behind enemy lines. And he's emphasized his unfounded claims that Biden will be on some kind of drug to enhance his performance, seemingly to undercut the prospect of a good performance by the president. Some Republicans have also been highlighting Biden's extensive resume of running races and debating.
Still, Trump's allies are setting high expectations for him, with senior adviser Jason Miller telling ABC News that Trump has demonstrated "elite stamina."
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Trump raises his fist as he exits plane in Atlanta
Trump arrived in Atlanta just before 5:30 p.m. As he exited the plane, he raised his fist and clapped his hands.
He went straight into his motorcade without approaching or greeting nearly 200 supporters who gathered to welcome him.
Accompanying him were his advisers Susie Wiles, Steven Cheung, James Blair, Jason Miller, Chris LaCivita, and Corey Lewandowski. The only lawmaker on the plane with him was Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.
This is the earliest presidential debate in history
With 131 days until Election Day, this faceoff is occurring months ahead of the usual fall timeline.
"The combination of having so many people with doubts about both candidates, coupled with the first debate occurring before either convention, heightens its potential importance," Republican political strategist Whit Ayres told ABC News.
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville told ABC News: "People's attitudes are very fixed and voters tend to be pretty entrenched. The person that 'wins' ... in this debate is going to be the one that provides voters with some new information."
-ABC News' Isabella Murray and Tommy Barone