Nat CastañedaJune 28, 2024Comment

Americans watch Trump and Biden in election debate

Nat CastañedaJune 28, 2024Comment

U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, met for the first general election debate of the 2024 season — a chance for the candidates to try to reshape the political narrative and persuade undecided voters.

A screen broadcasts the first general election debate of the 2024 season between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, during a watch party at the Nite Owl drive-in theater, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Thursday’s 90-minute debate was held in Atlanta and hosted by CNN. Americans with varying opinions on the nation’s most pressing issues gathered at venues across the country for watch parties.

Elaine Freeman, a Trump supporter from Oxford, Ohio, and employee at the local Veterans Affairs hospital, said the economy is the most important issue in this election. For her family, the cost of living is too high and she has trouble covering the cost of basics like groceries every week.

Elaine Freeman, of Oxford, Ohio, watches a U.S. presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Hamilton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

“For what I make, 15 years ago I would be considered upper middle class... I should not be living paycheck to paycheck.”

— Elaine Freeman

Adriana Varea, a policy and legislation fellow for the League of United Latin American Citizens, said immigration is a huge issue and that gun control should be addressed. She said she goes to school in Lewiston, Maine, the site of a mass shooting in 2023 in which 18 people were killed.

“Gun control is definitely something that I’m passionate about,” said Varea, who was at a debate watching event in Las Vegas.

Reginald Marsh, owner of the M Lounge in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago, watched with customers and said there’s not one top issue for him.

“I just believe Trump is dangerous for this country.”

— Reginald Marsh

President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump are reflected in the glasses of Agenor Leite, who recently moved to the U.S. from Brazil, during a presidential debate viewed from Hula Hula, a tiki themed karaoke bar, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Roger Strassburg, of Scottsdale, Ariz., wears a cowboy hat as he watches the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a debate watch party Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

London’s Bar & Grill in McAllen, Texas, is normally loud on a day close to the weekend, but the owners said they were surprised so many were quiet and engaged with the debate.

Hector Mercado, a military veteran donning a beret who lives in Edinburg, Texas, said he liked what Trump said about closing the border.

Virginia Lopez was also at the Texas bar and said she’s an undecided voter.

“It’s like somebody gave Trump an Adderall and I don’t think they gave Joe one.”

— Lynn Miller

Vanessa Soteldo listens to a simultaneous translation into Spanish on her cell phone as she watches the first general election debate of the 2024 season between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, on a giant outdoor screen at the Nite Owl drive-in theater, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Cape Coral. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

People are lit by the glow of a giant screen playing pre-debate coverage, as they gather to watch a presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at the Nite Owl drive-in theater, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Reproductive rights advocate Kat Duesterhaus holds up a sign as U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump speak about abortion access, as the the first general election debate of the 2024 season is projected on a outdoor screen at the Nite Owl drive-in theater, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Chuck Thompson, of Mason, Ohio, reacts during the U.S. presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Hamilton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Trump supporter, Lucas Federico, 21 years old, from New York, poses for a picture outside the Young Republicans' Presidential debate watch party on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in New York. President Joe Biden faces former President Donald Trump during the first Presidential debate ahead of the 2024 elections. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, are seen on a television at Tillie's Lounge during the presidential debate on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A viewer looks at his debate bingo card as people watch the first general election debate of the 2024 season between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a watch party organized by the Miami Freedom Project at the Center for Black Innovation in Overtown, Miami, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Liam Van Rosenberg bowls during the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, during a watch party at Broadway Bowl, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in South Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

“I feel like Biden was slow at the beginning but once Trump got him angry, now he’s back in the game. Once he started talking about Roe v Wade it was like Biden woke up and was here.”

— Amy Pottinger

Trump supporters react during the Young Republicans' Presidential debate watch party on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in New York as President Joe Biden faces former President Donald Trump during the first Presidential debate ahead of the 2024 elections. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Deb Moore of Saco, Maine, reacts to a comment by Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump during the presidential debate with President Joe Biden, during a watch party at Broadway Bowl, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in South Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

A crowd watch the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, at a watch party at Broadway Bowl, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in South Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Liquor bottles are placed on a back bar at the Abbey Food & Bar in West Hollywood, Calif., Thursday, June 27, 2024, as a presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, is broadcast. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

“Well, I feel that the people of the United States don’t love Mexicans now.”

— Andrea

Rosa Casares, center left, reaches down to where her daughter is laying on a blanket as she watches the presidential debate in a shelter for migrants waiting to apply for asylum, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Tijuana, Mexico. Migrants who wait to seek asylum in the U.S. at a shelter in this Mexican border city looked on via a translated broadcast as U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, Donald Trump, met Thursday for the first general election debate of the 2024 season. Casares and her family have been waiting for more than three months for their appointment to apply for asylum through the CBP One app. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Lori Lahrmann left, and Tonya Morris, second from left, both from Cincinnati, watch the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Tillie's Lounge on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Cincinnati. Both plan to vote for President Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A patron, who wished to remain unnamed, puts their head in their hands as people watch a presidential debate at Hula Hula, a tiki themed karaoke bar, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Chris Wong, right, reacts with a friend who wished to be unnamed as President Joe Biden stumbles on an answer as people watch the presidential debate at Hula Hula, a tiki themed karaoke bar, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Sean Cannon, a Louisville resident, reacts during a watch party of the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Old Louisville Tavern on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

“I’m with Trump on that (immigration), I think Biden will win it, but Trump has some good points there too. Just because I am an African American doesn’t mean I am a Democrat, But Trump got some good points.”

— Clarence Picou