In a highly contentious first debate ahead of the 2024 presidential election, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump clashed on issues such as the economy, immigration, and the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Biden's performance was criticized as uneven and 'cringeworthy,' raising concerns about his age and effectiveness, while Trump leaned into falsehoods and deflected responsibility for the Capitol riot. A Massachusetts historian described Biden's debate as the worst in history, suggesting it might prompt the Democratic Party to consider another candidate. The debate also veered into a bizarre exchange about their golf handicaps, which social media widely mocked. The overall tone of the debate has left some voters potentially open to considering third-party candidates like Robert Kennedy Jr. for the upcoming election.