'Panico,' 'Panique,' whatever the language, Europe's headlines all screamed same about Biden debate

The languages varied from country to country, but the main message in European media coverage of the first U.S. presidential debate of 2024 was the same: Democrats and other President Joe Biden supporters were left in a "panic" about whether their candidate could win a second term. 

The debate began at 3 a.m. Friday in most European countries, too late for coverage to make it into the print editions across the region. But in online editions there was a broad consensus – “panico” reported Italy’s Corriere della Sera; “panique” from France’s Libération; “panik” opined The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in Germany; “pánica” in Spain’s El Mundo; and just plain “panic” in The Guardian from the U.K.

The newspaper headlines appeared to be riffing off a post-election comment by David Axelrod, a trusted Democrat voice who is largely considered the architect of Barack Obama's rise in 2008 to become the United States' first black president, for whom Biden served as vice president.

"I think there was a sense of shock, actually, how he came out at the beginning of this debate, how his voice sounded," Axelrod said on CNN, which hosted the debate. "He did get stronger as the debate went on, but by that time, I think the panic had set in."

What was more clear across Europe and the region's political spectrum was the likelihood that Biden debate partner and Republican challenger Donald Trump improved his chances of again become the country's president and a major force on the world stage – or that the Democratic Party might replace Biden. 

Germany’s national newspaper Die Welt went into great depth to explain how a switch could still take place, considering the Democratic Party's nominating convention, in Chicago this year, doesn't take place until late August.

Italy's La Repubblica reported Democrats were sent scrambling to find an alternative to Biden, which as of Friday morning did not appear to be an active, public effort.

Top Washington Democrats were essentially mum – from the Democrat National Committee to Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer to Nancy Pelosi, the still powerful ex-Democratic House speaker. 

"He got off to a bad start, said Pelosi, a California Democrat. "I thought he came through OK on the issues later.”

The U.K.’s BBC said Biden’s Democrat Party was “backed into a corner” over the president’s performance and had quotes from Vice President Kamala Harris and California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom – considered two of the best and most likely replacements should Biden be removed or step down. 

European media had its criticism of Trump’s performance as well, with El País, in Spain, highlighting inaccuracies in the former president’s statements.

France’s Le Figaro said both candidates undermined the usefulness of debates in picking a president, pointing out personal attacks from each and wondered aloud whether the second presidential debate of the 2024 campaign scheduled to take place in September should even happen. 

Though the post-debate analysis focused mostly on Biden, some Trump comments did appear to reaffirm his foreign policy stances, calling Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky "the greatest salesman ever" because "every time [he] comes to this country he walks away with $60 billion."

He also said that if reelected he'd settle the Russia-Ukraine war ever before taking office in late-January 2025.

Trump, who has long considered China a major threat to U.S. security and the country's economy, also suggested Biden is taking money from the communist-run country, calling him a "Manchurian Candidate."

Still, For Bild, a German tabloid that usually focuses on gossip, sports news and pinup girls, the conclusion was clear: “Good night, Joe!” it said, in English, in bold, over-sized print.