- President Joe Biden gave his first interview since last week’s debate with Donald Trump on Friday.
- Donors and supporters saw the interview as essential to addressing criticism of Biden’s poor debate performance.
- Here are four things you need to know about it.
All eyes were on ABC News Friday as President Joe Biden appeared in his first interview since his disastrous appearance at last week’s debate.
Democratic donors and Biden supporters saw the interview as key to addressing criticism of his poor performance in the debates — during which Biden repeatedly slurred his words and appeared to lose his train of thought.
Here’s what you need to know about how Biden’s post-debate interview will play out:
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 party funding until Biden withdraws from the race.
Other once-loyal supporters, including four sitting Democratic lawmakers, have joined in their calls for him to step down.
While some reports indicate that Biden has privately acknowledged that he may be unable to salvage his reelection bid, in his ABC News interview 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 asked Biden.
“Yes, I am,” the president replied. “Because, George, the last thing I want is to not be able to meet that request.”
2. Biden called debate night a “bad episode”
Biden called his poor debate performance a “bad episode,” but stressed that his clumsy remarks and distorted answers were “not indicative of any serious problem.”
“I was exhausted,” Biden told ABC News. “I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparation and … and I had a bad night.”
Biden, now 81, has long been criticized for his age and fitness for office, and the criticism intensified after the debate. His campaign offered conflicting excuses for the sitting president’s lackluster performance, including that he was sick, jet-lagged and ill-prepared for the event.
When Stephanopoulos pressed Biden on why spending nearly a week at Camp David was not sufficient recovery time after his trip to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Biden responded that he was sick.
“I felt terrible,” Biden said. “Actually, the doctors were with me. I asked if they had done a COVID test because they were trying to figure out what was wrong. They did a test to see whether or not I had an infection, you know, a virus. I didn’t. I just had a really bad cold.”
3. The president appears to be thinking about his legacy
Although he has said he plans to remain in the race for reelection — joking that he would consider resigning if “the Lord Almighty” asked him to — Biden, in several responses, appeared to reflect on his debate performance and his presidential legacy more broadly.
“If I stopped now, I would go down in history as a pretty successful president,” Biden said.
What if Trump wins?
Biden said that “as long as I give it my all,” everything will be fine.
“That’s what this is about,” Biden said.
Biden notably dodged 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 deny his poll numbers are falling
Asked about his continued decline in the polls, Biden was defiant, saying the data was not accurate.
“I remember they told me the same thing in 2020: I can’t win. The polls show I can win,” Biden said. “Before the vote, I said it’s not going to happen: We’re going to win.”
In 2020, Biden became the first US presidential candidate to receive more than 80 million votes. In the interview, Biden referenced his historic victory, reiterating his intention to win again.
Stephanopoulos asked whether Biden had heard of recent reports of discontent within the Democratic Party, which Biden also dismissed.
“I saw it in the press,” Biden said.
5. Viewers don’t seem convinced yet
On social media, excerpts from 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 understand that he accepted responsibility,” wrote another Instagram user. “He still has my vote. There is no room for more mistakes in my opinion.”
