A Test of Coherency at This Year’s Debate

Just days ahead of Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s first 2024 presidential debate, the two candidates are set to appeal before the American people from similarly respective situations: Both are unpopular, they are tied in recent national polls, and the men are older than any previous president.

On the debate stage, the candidates each face a test to prove that they have what it takes to be in office. For Trump, the debate will be one of his first public forays before a national audience since leaving the White House—and concern about his cognitive well-being will be center stage. Until now, people have largely tuned out the former president, Jonathan Karl argued on Washington Week With The Atlantic. And despite his omnipresence as a political figure, this is not “the same Donald Trump of the Trump presidency,” Karl said. “His ideas have gotten fuzzy.”

Meanwhile, Biden will almost certainly face attacks about his frailty as concern about his physical health and mental presence has become central to arguments against his candidacy. Both candidates face a certain kind of danger in taking the stage, but whereas Biden needs to prove he’s not senile, “the expectations for Trump are higher,” Anne Applebaum said. “It will be harder for Trump to appear coherent, to sound coherent.”

“One of the things that’s at stake in this election is: Do we vote on policy, do we vote on what’s really happening in the economy, or do we vote on bombast and identity politics and, essentially, lies that suit whatever biases you have?” Applebaum asked. “The debate might show that.”

Joining editor in chief of The Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg to discuss this and more: Anne Applebaum, a staff writer for The Atlantic; Zolan Kanno-Young, a White House correspondent for The New York Times; Jonathan Karl, the chief Washington correspondent for ABC News; and Vivian Salama, a national-politics reporter for The Wall Street Journal.

Watch the full episode here.