‘Joe Biden can’t do it’: shaky debate has US allies bracing for Donald Trump’s return

Joe Biden’s shaky performance in the US presidential debate drew stunned global reactions on Friday, prompting public calls for him to step aside and likely leaving some of America’s closest allies preparing for Donald Trump’s return.

Biden’s supporters had hoped Thursday’s debate would erase worries that he was too old to serve, but footage of the president sounding hoarse and stumbling over his words boosted Trump, said politicians, analysts and investors.

Global newspapers were also damning. France’s Le Monde compared Biden to a shipwreck. Britain’s left-leaning Daily Mirror called his performance a “gaffe-strewn nightmare”. Germany’s Bild newspaper ran with “Good night, Joe!” and The Sydney Morning Herald said “Trump monstered Biden. The Democrats can’t win with Joe.”

“Joe Biden can’t do it,” said Matteo Renzi, a centrist who was close to the Democrats while serving as Italy’s prime minister.