Biden’s disastrous Trump debate showdown sends Democrats into panic
A ‘disorientated’ Joe Biden put in a disastrous performance during a 90-minute head-to-head with Donald Trump last night – sending the Democratic party into total panic and raising the spectre that he could be replaced as candidate for the 2024 general election.
The US President repeatedly lost his way, mumbled and stumbled over his words in a dismal performance on CNN last night. Mr Trump was seen pulling faces of shock as his rival lost his train of thought.
At times, Mr Biden looked blankly into the camera or down at his notes while Trump was speaking. He was also hoarse from the moment the debate started and it went down hill from there.
Trump’s team has already sought to capitalise on the TV disaster and has released a video compiling all Biden’s mumbling and bumbling in a video entitled: ‘Needless to say, the drugs didn’t work’.
Experts have described the debate disaster as a ‘DEFCON 1 moment’ for the Democrats. Behind the scenes there are calls to replace the 81-year-old president on the ticket after his dismal showing – even with five months to go.
Afterwards Mr Biden and his acolytes including California Governor Gavin Newsom said that he had won the debate.
But former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, David Axelrod, conceded that Biden’s first performance was damaging – right from the beginning – and the 90-minutes has shaken liberal America.
‘I think there was a sense of shock actually how he came out at the beginning of the debate, how his voice sounded, he seemed a little disoriented,’ he said on CNN, noting there would be ‘discussions’ in the party after the debate about whether Biden should continue his run for reelection.
At times, President Biden looked blankly into the camera or down at his notes while Trump was speaking
After Biden lost his train of thought at one point, Donald Trump said: ‘I really don’t know what he just said.’
Axelrod said that Biden’s performance confirmed people’s fears about his age and ability to serve another four years.
Biden also struggled at times to finish his sentences or complete a talking point before trying to move on.
CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash repeatedly reminded him to use the rest of his time, when he cut his answers and responses to Trump short.
Kate Bedingfeld, a former White House communications director for Joe Biden also panned the performance from her former boss.
‘It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden,’ she said. ‘I don’t think there is any other way to slice it.’
Activist and CNN commentator Van Jones said that even though he ‘loved’ Joe Biden, he described the debate as ‘painful.’
‘There are people who are going to want to see him consider taking a different course now,’ Van Jones said. ‘We’re still far from our convention and there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward if he will allow us to do that but that was not what we needed from Joe Biden.’
Other Democratic strategists not connected with the Biden campaign agreed.
President Joe Biden participates in the CNN presidential debate
President Joe Biden has been heavily criticised for his performance during the debate
Donald Trump speaks during the debate in Atlanta
President Joe Biden, second right, and first lady Jill Biden, right, greet CNN event moderators Dana Bash, from left, and Jake Tapper
US President Joe Biden and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participate in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections
‘I don’t know if high-level conversations are happening right now about Biden’s concerning performance, but it would be political malpractice to pretend tonight advanced the Biden campaign,’ wrote MSNBC contributor and Democratic strategist Max Burns on social media.
Other Democrats reacted anonymously to reporters to signal their shock about Biden’s performance.
Prominent Democrat texts: ‘Gavin please…’ wrote New York Times reporter Kenneth Vogel.
CNN host Kasie Hunt wrote on social media that Democrats were ‘nearly beside themselves watching this debate’ after coming to terms with Biden’s demeanor.
She detailed texts from prominent Democrats on CNN.
‘If I was Gavin (Newsom) or Gretchen (Whitmer), I’d be making calls tonight,’ one Democrat told her. Another wrote simply ‘we are f***d.’
Other Democrats voiced their panic on social media, urging the party to be honest about their chances.
Biden’s feeble debate performance will be welcomed by his rival Donald Trump
Joe Biden and Jill Biden attend as supporters greet the president with a light display showing Georgians love for Joe Biden at his debate watch party at Hyatt Regency Atlanta
People watch the CNN presidential debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump
Some of those watching the debate were playing bingo with themes they thought would come up
US President Joe Biden (C) and US First Lady Jill Biden visit a Waffle House after the disastrous debate, where he said he had won
‘Texts from family and friends, all Democrats who despise Trump, are extremely concerning. You cannot just spin this and ignore the fact that this is not going well for our side,’ wrote former New York City council member Jimmy Van Bramer on social media.
MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace said the conversation about replacing Biden was ‘live and active at the highest levels of the Democratic party.’
MSNBC’s Joy Reid agreed, noting her phone was buzzing throughout the debate from texts from Democrats.
‘The universal reaction was somewhere approaching panic,’ she said, adding they were ‘very concerned’ about Biden appearing feeble and weak.
Biden spokesman Andrew Bates reacted on social media by dismissing hand-wringing Democrats.
‘We have plenty of experience offering backbone transplants,’ he wrote, praising Biden for making a ‘strong argument for his vision’ during the debate.
