- President Joe Biden appeared on Friday in his first interview since last week’s debate with Donald Trump.
- Donors and supporters saw the interview as essential to addressing criticism of Biden’s weak debate performance.
- Here are four things you need to know about it.
All eyes were on ABC News on Friday as President Joe Biden appeared in his first interview since his disastrous debate appearance last week.
Democratic donors and Biden supporters saw the interview as essential to addressing criticism of his poor debate performance — in which Biden repeatedly fumbled for words and appeared to lose his train of thought.
Here’s what you need to know about how Biden’s post-debate interview went:
1. He stays in the race
In response to the debate debacle, some major Democratic donors, including Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and Disney heiress Abigail Disney, have pledged to withhold funding from the party until Biden drops out of the race.
Other once-loyal supporters, including four House Democrats, joined his calls for him to step aside.
While some reports indicate that Biden has privately acknowledged that he may not be able to salvage his reelection bid, in his interview with ABC News, he publicly reiterated his current plan to remain in the race.
“Are you sure you’re being honest with yourself when you say you have the mental and physical capacity to serve another four years?” ABC’s George Stephanopoulos pressed Biden.
“Yes, I am,” the president replied. “Because George, the last thing I want is to not be able to get to that.”
2. Biden called debate night a “bad episode”
Biden called his poor performance on debate night a “bad episode” but stressed that his clumsy words and confused answers were “not an indication of any serious condition.”
“I was exhausted,” Biden told ABC News. “I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparation and — and a bad night.”
Biden, now 81, has long faced criticism about his age and fitness for office, which grew louder after the debate. His campaign offered conflicting excuses for the sitting president’s lackluster showing, including that he was ill, jet-lagged and ill-prepared for the event.
When Stephanopoulos pressed Biden, asking why spending nearly a week at Camp David was not enough time to recover from his trips to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Biden said he was sick.
“I was feeling terrible,” Biden said. “In fact, the doctors were with me. I asked if they did a COVID test because they’re trying to figure out what was wrong. They did a test to see if I had an infection or not, you know, a virus. I didn’t. I just had a really bad cold.”
3. The president appears to be considering his legacy
While he has said he plans to remain in the running for reelection — joking that he would consider resigning if “the Lord Almighty” asked him to — Biden, in several responses, appeared reflective about his debate performance and his presidential legacy more broadly.
“If I were to stop now, I would go down in history as a very successful president,” Biden said.
What if Trump wins?
Biden said that “as long as I do my best,” he will be fine.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Biden said.
Notably, Biden sidestepped questions about what he would do if Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies asked him to resign.
4. Biden appears to be in denial about his falling poll numbers
When pressed about his persistent decline in the polls, Biden was defiant, saying the data was not accurate.
“I remember them telling me the same thing in 2020 — I can’t win. The polls show I can win,” Biden said. “Before the vote, I said that’s not going to happen: We’re going to win.”
When he won in 2020, Biden became the first US presidential candidate to secure more than 80 million votes. Biden referenced his historic victory in the interview, reiterating his intention to win again.
Stephanopoulos asked if Biden had seen recent reports of discontent in the Democratic Party, which Biden also brushed aside.
“I saw it in the press,” Biden said.
5. Viewers don’t seem convinced so far
On social media, clips of the 22-minute interview drew immediate skepticism, if not outright condemnation, from many viewers.
Some criticized ABC News for airing a pre-recorded version instead of a live broadcast, while others criticized Biden’s answers and appearance during the interview.
“I don’t feel better,” one Instagram user wrote in a comment. “I think this interview made it worse.”
The initial response was not entirely negative, with some reiterating their support for Biden.
“I can appreciate him accepting responsibility,” another Instagram user wrote. “He still has my vote. There is no room for more mistakes in my opinion.”
