LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Both the president and former president traded jabs during the first presidential debate of 2024 on CNN.
While they didn't debate in front of a live audience, community members' eyes were glued to the television as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump took to the stage once again.
Dozens of Democrats anxiously watched at the Old Louisville Tavern as Biden answered each question.
State Rep. Keturah Herron (D-Louisville) is confident in Biden, but she was most concerned about the rhetoric coming from the Republican Party.
"From the insurrection, to the felonies, we can't have someone like that leading our nation," she said.
Don Fitzpatrick, the president of the Jefferson County Republican Party, is a strong supporter of Trump.
"Not only were people better off four years ago under his leadership, more importantly they're going to be better off in 2025 when he is president of the United States again," he said.
However, others disagreed; Allison Wiseman, the president of the Kentucky Young Democrats, felt the economy is much different four years later.
"President Biden has done a phenomenal job putting infrastructure first, putting the economy first, putting good union jobs first," she said.
Back in February, the Biden administration announced plans to modernize airports around the country with $970 million in grants.
The United Auto Workers also endorsed Biden in January after he showed support for the union during the nationwide auto strike in 2023.
While both men went back and forth on issues like the economy and inflation, immigration was one of the big topics discussed Thursday night. Fitzpatrick felt the former president would do a better job at catching undocumented people.
"Focus on securing our border; we have crime that has spiked significantly under this president," he said.
According to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding arrests of criminal noncitizens, in fiscal year 2023, there were 1,254 criminal convictions in assault, battery and domestic violence. So far in fiscal year 2024, that number has dropped to 814.
The highest number of noncitizens convicted of illegal drug possession and trafficking was 2,239 in fiscal year 2022. As of June 20, it was 1,144 in fiscal year 2024.
Fiscal year 2024 runs from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024 for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
On the other hand, Herron felt the White House has done significant work about gun violence plaguing communities.
"So, for me and the issues we face here in Louisville, Kentucky I think those are some tangible things that people need to remember," she said.
Fitzpatrick felt immigrants must follow a proper process to become legal in the United States.
"Unfortunately, what has happened now a lot of people are feeling it, it's just out of control," he said.
The second debate will be Sept. 10 on ABC.
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