Democrats call for Joe Biden to quit after faltering election debate against Trump

Biden’s delivery from the beginning of the debate drew the most attention afterwards

US President Joe Biden speaks as he participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections. Picture: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

A stumbling performance by Joe Biden against Donald Trump in their first election debate has sparked a fresh round of calls for the Democrat to consider stepping aside as the party’s nominee.

A raspy and sometimes halting Mr Biden tried repeatedly to confront Mr Trump, as his Republican rival countered the president’s criticism by leaning into falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration and his role in the January 6 2021 Capitol insurrection.