Trump vs Biden US Presidential Debate 2024 Highlights: Economy, climate issues, Ukraine and Israel wars feature in debate between Biden, Trump

With just over four months left for the US Presidential polls, the debate is a chance for the Democrat and Republic frontrunners to change the public view, which polling show is skewed against them. Both candidates are disliked by majorities of Americans, according to polling, and offer sharply different visions on virtually every core issue.

Among the issues that are likely to come up are:

Fitness to lead the country

Trump claims Biden is physically and mentally unfit for office, while Biden has called his predecessor "unhinged" and a danger to democratic norms.

Temperament

Both candidates are known for their tempers and impatience. They are used to commanding the stage and getting their way. Both have been president and likely see little reason to yield to the other.

Disinformation

Trump is notorious for injecting falsehoods and exaggerated boasts into his remarks, typically requiring a legion of fact-checkers to verify his claims. Biden, too, has been known to tell a tall tales on the stump.

The narrative trap

The Biden campaign recently launched a $50 million ad campaign highlighting Trump's guilty verdict, suggesting the president's team views it as a winning issue. For Trump, the danger lies in saying things that underscore Biden's argument that he is a threat to democratic norms. Trump, for example, has suggested he will use the Justice Department to target his political enemies.

Trump may also be tempted to complain, as he frequently does on social media, about forces working against him or cast himself as a victim of a political conspiracy.

No audience feedback

In a sharp departure from previous presidential debates, there will be no studio audience. That could pose problems for both candidates, but perhaps particularly for Trump, who draws energy from a boisterous crowd.