Trump Takes on Biden in First Debate

Former President Trump fired up a major gathering of conservative and faith voters on Saturday, just days ahead of what's expected to be an epic head-to-head battle with President Biden in the first presidential debate of 2024.

Former President Donald Trump took aim at President Joe Biden on Saturday, just days ahead of their first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign. Speaking at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's annual Road to Majority conference in Washington, D.C., Trump fired up a crowd of more than a thousand attendees with a mix of familiar themes and new attacks on his Democratic rival.

"Nobody's going to be watching the debate on Thursday night, right?" Trump quipped, prompting laughs from the crowd. He spent part of his opening remarks calling for Christians to get out and vote in November. "Christians don't vote that much," he joked. "You don't have to vote in four years, but you have to vote this time."

Trump Takes on Biden in First Debate

Trump spoke on a number of issues important to voters of faith, including late-term abortion and his administration's movement of the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. "Never again will the federal government be used to target Americans of faith," Trump said, referencing crackdowns on gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also lamented religion "becoming less and less important" across the country, citing its decline as a reason the country is facing crime and other problems. Trump railed against the "radical left," who he said "rigged" the 2020 election, and vowed they wouldn't do the same this year. "They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom," Trump said, referencing the various prosecutions being carried out against him.

Trump Takes on Biden in First Debate

Trump got what appeared to be the loudest applause when speaking on illegal immigration, when he vowed to begin the "largest deportation operation in American history" on his first day in office.

Trump's speech was preceded by remarks from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who issued a call to action to get Trump back into the White House. Youngkin has been mentioned as a potential vice presidential running mate for Trump, along with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty.

Trump Takes on Biden in First Debate

Notably, Gabbard was the only speaker at the conference who left the Democratic Party in 2022. Her presence on stage highlighted Trump's efforts to attract disaffected Democrats to his campaign.

The Faith & Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority Conference is the largest public policy gathering of conservative Christian activists in the U.S., and the event marks the latest instance where a number of those reportedly in the running for the role of Trump's running mate could be competing on stage for his approval ahead of the Republican National Convention this summer.

Trump Takes on Biden in First Debate

Trump and Biden will meet on an Atlanta stage this Thursday in a debate hosted by CNN, the first meeting between the two rivals since their final debate ahead of the 2020 presidential election. The two are only expected to meet on the debate stage one other time ahead of the November general election, when ABC News hosts its debate in September.

The upcoming debate is widely seen as a crucial moment in the 2024 campaign, as both Trump and Biden seek to set the tone for the rest of the race. Trump will be looking to capitalize on his strong support among Republican voters, while Biden will be hoping to shore up his base and attract independent voters.

Trump Takes on Biden in First Debate