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US President Joe Biden on Thursday stumbled over his words during the first debate of the 2024 election season, facing criticism from Republican rival Donald Trump over his handling of tax policy and healthcare funding.

Biden, 81, launched into the debate with a raspy voice and delivered disjointed, rambling answers, reigniting concerns about his age. He appeared uncertain while addressing the issue of national debt, initially confusing “billionaires” with “trillionaires” before correcting himself. His attempt to advocate for tax reform to bolster healthcare funding faltered as he struggled to complete his sentences.

“We finally beat Medicare,” Biden stated, likely referring to the administration’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump, 78, capitalised on Biden’s verbal missteps, retorting, “He’s right. He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death,” highlighting what he perceived as Biden’s lack of coherence on key policy issues.

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The debate, hosted by CNN in Atlanta, marked the first face-off between the two presidential candidates, each grappling to assert their leadership credentials amid a sharply divided electorate. Biden aimed to reassure voters of his capability to navigate the nation through challenges, while Trump sought to pivot from his recent legal troubles and portray himself as fit for a return to the Oval Office.

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Democrats expressed confusion and concern as they watched the first minutes of the event, POLITICO reported. A former Biden White House official called it “terrible,” adding that they have had to ask themselves over and over “What did he just say? This is crazy.”

During the pair’s first debate of the election campaign, Trump challenged Biden to undergo a cognitive test, saying he did not believe his Democratic rival for the White House in 2024 could pass one. “I took two tests, cognitive tests. I aced them, both of them, as you know, we made it public. He took none. I’d like to see him take one, just one, a real easy one, like go through the first five questions. He couldn’t do it,” Trump said.

During the fiery debate, Biden and Trump clashed on their records on the economy, abortion and immigration at a debate with enormous stakes as each candidate seeks an advantage in their tight race for the White House. Speaking to US media, Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged that her boss had a “slow start” in Thursday’s crucial debate against his election rival Trump, but insisted the Democrat had a “strong finish.” “It was a slow start, that’s obvious to everyone. I’m not going to debate that point,” she told CNN after Biden’s faltering performance in the debate swiftly raised fears over his candidacy.

(With agency inputs)