Trump-Biden debate devolves into squabble over golf handicaps

The first US presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump on Thursday took an unexpected turn after they got into an argument over golf when asked about their ability to serve as president well into their 80s.

Mr Biden’s performance was marked by rambling answers, while Mr Trump spent the debate spreading misinformation and failing to answer questions.

The Democrat repeatedly tore into Mr Trump in an apparent bid to provoke him, bringing up everything from the former president's recent felony conviction to his alleged insult of World War I veterans and his weight.

Mr Trump declined to clearly state that he would accept the results of the November election, four years after he was promoted conspiracy theories about his defeat that culminated in the 6 January insurrection, and repeatedly misstated the record from his time in office.

But the debate's trajectory took an abrupt turn when CNN moderator Dana Bash asked the candidates about their ability to serve well into their 80s.

Mr Biden, answering in a hoarse voice, listed a litany of his supposed policy achievements and pointed out that Mr Trump was only «three years younger and a lot less competent.”

The incumbent president said he was previously „criticised about being the youngest person in politics“. „I was the second youngest person ever elected to the United States Senate, and now I’m the oldest,“ he said.

In his retort, Mr Trump bragged about his golf game and said he was in as good a shape as he had been 25 years ago and perhaps „even a little bit lighter.”

The Republican claimed that he recently won two club championships. “Not even senior, two regular club championships,” he added. “To do that, you have to be quite smart and you have to be able to hit