President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump squared off in a Presidential debate moderated by CNN anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper Thursday evening in a made-for-TV event.
Originally scheduled for 90 minutes, the debate ran over by a few moments, allowing for more reactions from news media members who had opinions on a variety of topics.
First, there were observations on how Tapper, Bash, and CNN as a whole performed. Perhaps surprising to many, the consensus from conservative media members was that the moderators and format worked well.
CNN's decision to abrogate its journalistic responsibilities by not fact checking Trump's firehose of lies is unforgivable.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) June 28, 2024
This debate is Biden vs the tag team of Trump and CNN's utter failure as a news organization
The biggest loser of this debate? @CNN. How do you allow lies to be told and not correct them for everyone watching?
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 28, 2024
CNN moderators so far have been great
— Brian Kilmeade (@kilmeade) June 28, 2024
CNN hasn’t been biased, but wow have they have been boring
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) June 28, 2024
Shockingly agree. https://t.co/74T8Y3ExKo
— Mark Kaye (@markkayeshow) June 28, 2024
So I owe an apology to Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Concerns about their bias affecting their performance were unfounded. @hughhewitt was right. They have been fair and professional. pic.twitter.com/3dvDG37KKg
— Mike Gallagher Show (@radiotalkermike) June 28, 2024
Closing on the age issue is just awful for @JoeBiden. It was appropriate but the left is going to hammer @DanaBashCNN for doing so. It was the right thing to do but of course it underlined everyone’s real thinking: He’s too old. Already.
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) June 28, 2024
I’m seeing some of y’all praising CNN.
— Brandon Tatum (@TheOfficerTatum) June 28, 2024
CNN didn’t just wake up and find Jesus ????
CNN LOATHES Trump.
They’re part of the Dems agenda. This is all by design and for a reason.
Chill on the Chicken Noodle Network ???? #debate #TheRealDebate
Credit to Jake Tapper and Dana Bash on their debate moderation, they have mostly stayed out of the way and let Joe Biden light himself on fire.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 28, 2024
I want to give CNN credit. The debate format is fantastic.
— LeoTerrell (@TheLeoTerrell) June 28, 2024
I bet CNN is wondering why they even wrote questions for Trump since he doesn’t wanna answer any of them!
— The Nikki Medoro Show (@NikkiMedoro) June 28, 2024
The scrutiny looks like it paid off. https://t.co/QiJKT3pAEi
— Vince Coglianese (@VinceCoglianese) June 28, 2024
Tomorrow’s big story will be that CNN was unfair to Biden
— Kyle Smith (@rkylesmith) June 28, 2024
Must admit @CNN is doing an amazing job fair and balanced
— Charles Gasparino (@CGasparino) June 28, 2024
Good of the moderators to rush right to abortion since Biden is falling all over everything else.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) June 28, 2024
Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are doing a fantastic job. No notes. Kudos to CNN.
— Robby Soave (@robbysoave) June 28, 2024
50 mins in @jaketapper and @DanaBashCNN doing excellent job insofar as the debate is not about them. asking good questions and letting candidates debate. @CNN
— Michael Smerconish (@smerconish) June 28, 2024
I had reservations, but I must admit Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are doing a good job.
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) June 28, 2024
Jake Tapper is showing the entire country why @redsteeze calling him "Passive Voice Keith Olbermann" is the most accurate nickname of all time.
— Dan O'Donnell (@DanODonnellShow) June 28, 2024
It must kill CNN to know that the rules put in place to help Biden are actually helping Trump tremendously. he is staying on message because he's not playing to a crowd and not being able to interrupt is keeping him from looking boorish to independents.
— Dan O'Donnell (@DanODonnellShow) June 28, 2024
CNN is telling us they care more about their future bottom line ratings wise, more than they do about protecting Biden. Can’t blame them.
— Nick Kayal (@NickKayal) June 28, 2024
Tapper & Bash have done their job. Other than Tappers “jump in” 1x, very well done. Respect.
— Nick Kayal (@NickKayal) June 28, 2024
Many news media observers also declared that Trump was the decisive victor of the evening.
Tonight’s debate was a pass/fail test for Joe Biden. And it was a lenient grading curve. Yet Biden still failed. Even after a full week of preparation. They’re going to replace him.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 28, 2024
#Trump winning largely because he crushed #Biden on border. I will analyze on @NewsNation shortly. #PresidentialDebate2024
— Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) June 28, 2024
Any honest person watching this debate would admit Trump came out on top
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) June 28, 2024
But Biden’s feebleness was the inescapable takeaway of the night-
and while Trump had a strong showing- that’s all on Joe
The only people tomorrow who will not be questioning Biden’s performance are the people at MSNBC who have assured us he is a super genius, super sharp, and agile. Outside the propagandists, the big story will be his age.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) June 28, 2024
For most regular, normal American viewers, this was always going to be a debate about optics over substance. That's what people were tuning in for, to see how both candidates would perform. And the optics are brutal for Biden. Simple as that. #DebateNight #Debates2024 #CNNDebate
— Ryan Gorman (@ryanegorman) June 28, 2024
Old Deuteronomy has lost the debate. And maybe the nomination. Democrats may be stuck but they are most definitely panicking. The yanked Torricelli when he couldn’t win and dusted off Lautenberg.
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) June 28, 2024
This is an epic ass whooping and we aren't even 30 minutes in.
— Rich Zeoli ???????? (@Richzeoli) June 28, 2024
No one is talented enough to spin this. Joe Biden is getting demolished tonight. It’s not even close.
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) June 28, 2024
How did Trump do? How did Biden do? @MandyConnell, @AllbrightNFL & @Rossputin give their grades for the CNN Presidential Debate‼️ ????
— KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (@KOAColorado) June 28, 2024
What are your grades? ✍️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2vVgwCKlIM
