It was not just shocked Democrats — President Biden's debate performance Thursday attracted international consternation and dismay.
Why it matters: The debate sowed fresh pessimism for Biden beating former President Trump in November, which carries wide-reaching consequences for many U.S. allies.
- Trump has frequently bucked the traditions of the post-World War II international order, such as by withdrawing the U.S. from the UN Human Rights Council during his presidency and vowing to stand by Russia if it invaded a NATO ally.
Germany
Germany's newspapers did not mince their words when it came to describing Biden's debate performance.
- Bild led its site Friday morning with the headline "Good night, Joe!" while Süddeutsche Zeitung declared the debate "painful to watch."
- "The real losers of the first TV debate in the U.S. election campaign are the Americans," Süddeutsche Zeitung declared in a separate story.
France
France's Le Monde newspaper declared the debate a "disaster" and a "shipwreck" for Biden.
- Libération criticized Biden's "weak and monotone voice, blank stare, and imprecise or incoherent answers," adding that the poor performance was a "disaster without precedent in modern American political history."
- Le Figaro dubbed Biden's performance "catastrophic."
United Kingdom
The Times of London declared Friday that Biden's re-election campaign had been "plunged into crisis" following the debate, adding that Biden had "showed his age."
- "Biden struggles to land lines as Trump lies in first presidential debate" read the Guardian headline Thursday.
China
Chinese state broadcaster CGTN noted that "Biden started hesitantly and Trump answered steadily in a halting clash." The debate on the whole "didn't shed much light on policy specifics," it said.
- Chinese state news service Xinhua reported that the debate "featured frequent personal attacks."
