Biden's disastrous debate creates a mirage of Trump competency. It's all lies.

Well, the idea that President Joe Biden would be pumped up with performance-enhancing drugs was soundly debunked during Thursday’s presidential debate.

It was, for an 81-year-old incumbent president who needed to show people his age is not a factor, an unmitigated disaster. Biden seemed to lose his train of thought at one point early in the evening, his voice was hoarse throughout and he often struggled to get his points across.

Simply put, he looked and sounded old, which he is. Trump is only three years younger, but he appeared – and I can’t believe I’m writing this – sharper. Nuts, but sharper.

Biden struggled, and Trump lied over and over again

Trump is, of course, not sharper. He’s a blathering liar, and he lied relentlessly throughout the debate, with absolutely no corrections or fact-checking from the CNN moderators. The uncontested nonsense helped Trump appear stronger and more together than Biden – no question. People who haven’t paid attention to Trump’s criminal trials, his rambling nonsense at rallies and his hateful rhetoric likely walked away from the debate thinking Biden is weak and Trump is strong.

And that, God help us, might be all it takes to swing the election.

That would be a catastrophe for America.

The Biden vs. Trump debate highlighted each candidate's main flaws

Biden’s age is what it is, and for as bad as the debate performance was, I’ll take an age-weakened Biden and the intelligent people and team he has behind him over another four years of Trump and his malicious minions.

CNN’s decision to do nothing to push back on or fact-check Trump’s firehose of lies obscured the fact that he was utterly full of crap and rarely answered the actual questions being asked.

If the debate did anything it was to highlight each candidate’s weakness. For Biden, it’s his age and ability to handle another term. For Trump, it’s his utter disregard for the truth, his manic narcissism and his willingness to only see a world that revolves around him.

A third-world nation? No, we're not. But Trump thinks that.

Trump called America “a third-world nation” and “a failing nation.” He uttered these remarkable words: “I didn’t have sex with a porn star.” He was accused of saying, “Hitler has done some good things,” and he did nothing to push back on that claim.

And he lied and lied and lied some more.

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Biden's debate performance was absolutely terrible – no question

But … Biden didn’t do well. In a country with a media ecosystem that thrives on vibes, that might be all that matters.

So now we sit back and watch Democrats do what Democrats do best: Freak out. And they may be right to freak out. And they may decide the best path forward is to get Biden to step aside.

I don’t know. I was as troubled as anyone watching the president struggle Thursday night.

Who won the debate? Biden has no business running for president. The debate proved it.

A second Trump presidency would be an absolute disaster

But I’ll say it again: I’m far more troubled by everything a second Trump presidency represents. I’m far more troubled by a cruel, convicted criminal hellbent on revenge being given immense power. I’m far more troubled at the thought of America accepting a self-serving liar.

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I don’t know exactly where we go from here. But don’t let yourself be fooled into thinking Trump has changed a bit, gained competency or displayed one iota of honesty.

Biden’s failures Thursday night created a mirage. Trump, on vibes and appearance, “won” the debate.

I pray that doesn’t wind up being America’s loss.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden's horrible debate performance helped Trump. And that's scary