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2024 Presidential Debate "Punch-up" Incident
On 16 September 2024, at about 22:20 ET, during the first Presidential Debate hosted at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, former U.S. President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden entered a fist-fight in front of 65.2 million viewers over a heated argument on the handling of the ___. The fight lasted for 16 seconds before being broken up by the Secret Service.

History
Anticipation over the first Presidential Debate had reached new heights over the weeks leading up to the encounter, with Trump tweeting several hours prior to the incident: "I'm gonna come in punching [sic] he's [Biden] got a lot to answer for... and the people need answers!" With Trump's constant arraignments and Biden's bouts of ill health, the debate itself was constantly at risk of cancellation, yet miraculously took place without delay on its prearranged date.

The debate was divided into six segments: "The declining state of the War in Ukraine, overthrowing of President Benjamin Netanyahu, overturning of Roe v. Wade, election meddling in Venezuela, and the economy". Partway through the topic of, talks had dissolved to the point of shouting between the two candidates, with moderator Chris Wallace unable to reign them in. Trump, criticizing Biden over his purported "declining physical ability", alleged that, if elected, he wouldn't live through the entire term due to his advanced age. Biden, angered by this, reasoned that he could "knock your lights out, man" before being immediately taunted by Trump, calling him out on his bluff.

At 22:20, 1 hour and 20 minutes in the first and only Presidential Debate for the 2024 election cycle, Joe Biden advanced over to Donald Trump's podium and struck the former president with a right hook to his left cheek. In response, Trump wrapped both hands around the president's throat, locking him in a chokehold. Biden then began laying punches to his head and kneeing his groin until Trump released his grip, with both candidates releasing a flurry of uncoordinated punches to each others head and stomach. The two were promptly removed from the debate following the altercation, and each released public statements soon thereafter.

Trump tweeted: "Sleepy Joe woke up and attacked me tonight . . . nevertheless, I fought back - not for myself, but for my country." Biden, in a White House address the following day, expressed his "deep sorrow and disappointment in my conduct . . . and, if need be, will tender my resignation from office if the public sees it appropriate." Biden was, surprisingly, met with support from both sides of the political spectrum, and continued in office through to the election.

Aftermath
The incident was subjected to a great number of memes as it disseminated across the internet. The hashtags #TeamBiden and #TeamTrump began circulating on the platform X (formerly Twitter), where political beliefs were cast aside in hopes of determining the unofficial "winner" of the bout. Many political commentators crossed party boundaries in declaring their support for the opposing candidate ___. Its impact within the cultural zeitgeist had the effect of momentarily unifying politically divided areas of the nation, with many ultimately undecided on who the true champion was. Thus, despite being cancelled in the wake of the incident, calls for a rematch at the second Presidential Debate were discussed, to little effect. Many even proposed a fully-fledged boxing match in a ring.