'Biden stumbles, Trump lies': How the global media reacted to the presidential debate

• President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump went head to head in their first debate — and the world's media was watching.
• The South China Morning Post said the two "presented starkly different visions for America's place in the world," and that it was a "high-stakes debate."
• English-language French news organization France24 highlighted issues with both candidates, headlining with: "Biden stumbles, Trump lies."

U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump went head to head in the first presidential debate on Thursday as they fight to win over voters ahead of the election later this year.

The two sparred on topics including abortion, foreign policy, the economy and immigration. Biden blasted Trump for his recent criminal conviction and blamed him for causing soaring inflation, while Trump flaunted his scores in cognitive tests and said he had given Biden "something great" when he left office.

While Biden himself suggested he thought he had done well, Democratic fundraisers sounded the alarm following the debate.

Here is how media organizations from around the world reacted to Biden and Trump's performance.

China's CGTN, the English-language service of state-run China Global Television Network, said: "Biden started hesitantly and Trump answered steadily in a halting clash." Accusations of lies and that each of them was the worst ever U.S. president, were rife, the outlet said.

Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post said the two "presented starkly different visions for America's place in the world," and that it was a "high-stakes debate." Before it kicked off, China's state-backed tabloid Global Times said it was expected to be "like a reality show."

The Times of India led its story with concerns