NEW YORK CITY—Viewers at two watch parties in Manhattan shared mixed reactions to the performances of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in the first presidential debate.
At a non-partisan watch party at the chic 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar in midtown Manhattan on June 27, some in the audience cheered when President Biden made a point, but this was tempered by muted reactions from the crowd at other times.
Meanwhile, further uptown at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Republican Club, Republicans said they were pleased with former President Trump’s performance and expressed concern for the president.
At the midtown watch party, some Biden supporters cheered at that moment in the debate when he cited the results of polls of presidential historians ranking former President Trump as the worst in America’s history.
They also made their support known when President Biden tried to put his opponent on the defensive about the events of Jan. 6 or the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Boos for former President Trump rang out throughout the hour and a half of the debate.
But even as they voiced support for their candidate, many guests at the rooftop bar were visibly underwhelmed and did not want to comment on the president’s performance.
A man who gave his first name as Jeff, and said he had traveled to New York from Washington for work, agreed with pundits in the national media who accused former President Trump of fudging the facts, and argued that the substance of President Biden’s positions on such issues as the border, the economy, healthcare, and Ukraine mattered more than his at times shaky and hesitant responses to moderators’ questions.
From the point of view of substance over style, it was the president who emerged as the victor, Jeff said.
“I think that Biden speaks with integrity, and integrity and being honest are what really counts here,” he told The Epoch Times.
A 28-year-old woman who spoke on the condition of her name not being used and who said she works in the technology sector said during one of two commercial breaks punctuating the debate that she did not share the disappointed and frustrated reactions of some Biden supporters.
Expectations were low going into the debate, she noted.
Republican Reaction
In contrast, Manhattan resident and Trump supporter Matthew Lombardo, 48, thought the president’s performance was “cringe-y.”“I’m not voting for Joe Biden, but I feel bad to see an elderly man like that … mumbling and stumbling,” Mr. Lombardo told The Epoch Times after watching the debate at the Metropolitan Republican Club.
During the debate, the candidates presented differing views over a range of issues including the Jan. 6 protest at the Capitol, abortion, inflation, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and immigration.
Mr. Lombardo weighed in on matters important to him.
“The most pressing things were Jan. 6 indictments, the lawfare against Trump, and the failure of the Biden administration,” Mr. Lombardo added.
Renee Moore, 61, and her boyfriend Richard Johnson Jr, 49, were appreciative that the candidates touched upon how they plan to take care and secure the country and provide for its citizens.
Former President Donald Trump repeatedly criticized the president over his handling of the border crisis.
“I get that from Trump,” Ms. Moore told The Epoch Times about securing the border.
While she believes that Democrats want this too, she was not satisfied with President Biden’s record on immigration.
Mr. Johnson was surprised at former President Trump’s approach, saying the Republican had maintained his composure.
“Trump is usually more boisterous about voicing his opinions,” Mr. Johnson told The Epoch Times.
“I feel like he was held back more. Trump is not Trump unless he’s being himself so that surprised me that he was able to pull all that together.”
When asked about providing childcare, former President Trump skirted around the issue by answering a previous question.
In the process, retired police officer Michael Fandal felt that the former president had missed an opportunity.
“Trump cares about children,” Mr. Fandal told The Epoch Times. “Take a look at his kids. They’re all grown up and they’re doing pretty well.”
