One week after CNN’s presidential debate threw his re-election campaign into turmoil, President Joe Biden returned to the airwaves for a closely-watched ABC News interview with George Stephanopoulos. The 22-minute conversation offered Biden the chance to look both backward and forward, reflecting on his heavily criticized performance opposite former President Donald Trump as well as to reset the conversation for the months of campaigning still ahead.
And the president made it clear that he intends to remain on the campaign trail, even as debate continues to swirl over how the issue of his age has already impacted his support in polls and with donors. Those questions have become particularly central to media coverage of Biden—an issue that’s sparked its own heated debate about press accountability and responsibility.
Biden himself took the media to task during his conversation with Stephanopoulos, suggesting that journalists are continuing to count him out as they have in the past. “I don’t think anybody’s more qualified to be President or win this race than me,” he said emphatically.
Fast national ratings indicate that 8.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the ABC News special, outdrawing all the other broadcast outlets combined. As of now, Biden is scheduled to return to the network on Sept. 10 for his second debate with Trump. Here’s a sampling of how journalists reacted to his first post-debate interview.
Not sure what the purpose of that ABC interview was.
It didn’t finish off Biden but it didn’t restore faith in him either.
A lot of the questions were a waste of time.
But, but, the denialism from Biden re the polls and his situation was truly alarming.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 6, 2024
I credit @GStephanopoulos for civilly asking the right questions. People will see what they want but you really can’t say this is reassuring
— Michael Smerconish (@smerconish) July 6, 2024
Democrats in Congress not feeling relieved by the President’s performance tonight.. one Dem Member who has been reluctant to weigh in told me this tonight:
“Almost everyone shares the concerns. We are heartbroken. We are sad. We are desperate to protect our democracy…
(More)— Ryan Nobles (@ryanobles) July 6, 2024
You could make the argument that, given the stakes and context, this interview performance is worse than the debate. https://t.co/1vGP34J5fC
— Steve Krakauer (@SteveKrak) July 5, 2024
🧵
Watched the full ABC interview.Joe Biden was totally fine.
Which, it seems to me, will prolong the (almost) inevitable departure of Biden from the race.
Which is bad news for Democrats.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) July 6, 2024
As long as Joe gets his participation medal, we’re cool https://t.co/3nP6GBy7C4
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) July 6, 2024
I don’t believe anyone could have handled a difficult and deeply personal interview with the president better than @GStephanopoulos did last night. His questions were respectful but firm and probing. He asked what needed to be asked, and did it with sensitivity.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) July 6, 2024
For some Biden allies, this was the most troubling part of the interview:
GS: If you stay in and Trump is elected and everything you’re warning about comes to pass, how will you feel in January?
BIDEN: I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the goodest job as I know I…
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) July 6, 2024
I think Stephanopoulos’s questions are mostly good and tough so far. And Biden’s answers aren’t all bad. But no normal person watching this thinks “this guy is sharp and ready for four more years.”
This is sad.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) July 6, 2024
The Biden I remember could have filled 22 minutes just answering one question.
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) July 6, 2024
For those of us who care for family with cognitive decline, we are told not to question them. It makes them more uncomfortable. This interview makes me sad
— Rosanna Scotto (@rosannascotto) July 6, 2024
He doesn’t “think” he watched his own debate?
He’s in the fight of his political life, it’s concerning if he hasn’t watched the debacle that put him there, and even more concerning if he can’t remember whether he’s watched it. https://t.co/fjJMu1lRV6
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) July 5, 2024
If time has robbed Biden of too much of his power to protect the country against Trump, is giving it his “all” what Americans need? Notes on the ABC interview, by me https://t.co/p1IwMvFAav
— Evan Osnos (@eosnos) July 6, 2024
Joe Biden had a calamitous debate.
The Hill may be in full revolt next week.
He could be driven from the race.
But the amped up media frenzy against him (complete with breathless NYT syntax blogs) will probably help Biden with his base like it’s helped Trump for a decade.— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) July 6, 2024