Independents and Republicans in Fox News Digital focus groups had mixed reactions to Biden and former President Trump’s spat over their cognitive abilities and golf handicaps, while Democrats were generally disapproving.
During Thursday night’s CNN presidential debate, CNN host Dana Bash announced the ages Biden and Trump will be at the end of their second four-year terms.
Biden will be 86 years old and Trump will be 82 years old.
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Former President Donald Trump (left) and President Biden faced off in a key 2024 presidential debate on Thursday, and the contrast between the two men couldn’t be starker, a body language expert told Fox News. (Getty Images)
“I’ve taken the cognitive ability test twice and I got perfect scores both times,” Trump said. “He’s never taken one, and I wish he’d take one.”
“I’ve just won the club championship twice – not the senior championship, but the regular club championship twice – so to do that you have to be pretty smart and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way,” the former president continued.
A raspy-voiced Biden stumbles off the ground as he takes on Trump in the first 2024 presidential debate
President Biden walks off stage during CNN’s presidential debate at CNN Studios in Atlanta on Thursday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Biden defended his age, saying, “I’ve been criticized for half my career for being the youngest person in politics. I was the second-youngest person ever elected to the United States Senate, and now I’m the oldest. This guy is three years younger than me and far less qualified.”
“I’d love to have a driving contest with him,” Biden said.
Former President Trump and President Biden will debate on Thursday night. (Getty Images)
“I saw you swing. I know your swing,” Trump retorted. “Stop acting like a kid.”
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“You’re a kid,” Biden responded.
According to Fox Digital’s Focus Group Dial, Republicans and independents approved of Trump’s comments, but Democrats did not.
Similarly, while Biden’s approval rating for Democrats soared during his response, his approval rating among independents and Republicans plummeted.
Focus group participants responded to Biden and Trump in real time, turning a dial to indicate their approval or disapproval, with Republicans’ sentiment graphed in red, Democrats’ in blue and independents’ in yellow in the video embedded in this article.
