Joe Biden’s halting debate performance sparks fresh calls for him to consider stepping aside

The 78-year-old Mr Trump declined to clearly state he would accept the results of the November election

President Joe Biden speaks during a presidential debate hosted by CNN with Republican presidential candidate former president Donald Trump (Gerald Herbert/AP)

A raspy and sometimes halting President Joe Biden tried repeatedly to confront Donald Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election, but his uneven performance crystallised the concerns of many Americans that, at 81, he is too old to serve as president.

It sparked a fresh round of calls for the Democrat to consider stepping aside as the party’s nominee amid fears of a return of Mr Trump to the White House.