Former President Joe Biden is encountering significant backlash from political figures after describing his 2024 debate performance against President Donald Trump as not very consequential. The remarks, made during an interview with People Magazine released on Wednesday, contrast sharply with the timeline of his presidential campaign, which ended just 24 days after the debate took place on June 27, 2024.
During the interview, Biden addressed the question of his current perspective on the debate. He stated that he did not know anyone who had not made a mistake in such a setting. To him, the event was not very consequential, partly because he initially believed a second debate would occur, which it did not. He further explained that the performance did not disturb him because he viewed it as a minor issue.
The former president's comments quickly generated a wave of criticism on social media. Steve Cortes, a former operative for the Trump campaign, posted on X on Wednesday, noting that the debate forced Biden to drop out of the race. Cortes emphasized the irony by stating that just 24 days after the 'not very consequential' debate, Biden ended his campaign for the presidency.
Conservative commentator Steve Guest also took to X to express his view, describing Biden as totally delusional. Matt Whitlock, a former senior adviser to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, argued in a Wednesday post that the event was actually the most consequential presidential debate of all time. Whitlock suggested that without the debate, Biden likely would have remained the party nominee. He added that he was excited to see the other hot takes in the book now.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joined the chorus of critics, quipping on X that it was the most lopsided debate in history. During the original debate, Biden was observed stumbling over his words, pausing for long periods, and displaying confused facial expressions, which contributed to the perception of a difficult performance.
Following the debate, Biden dropped out of the presidential race on July 21, 2024. This decision came amid mounting pressure from Democratic allies to end his re-election bid. In a separate development, former First Lady Jill Biden claimed in a May 2026 interview with CBS News Sunday Morning that she believed her husband was having a stroke on stage during the debate.
Biden has also announced plans to scale back his public appearances promoting his new presidential memoir, Promise Me, America. The book is scheduled for release on November 17. In an X post, Biden described the memoir as a coverage of his years as president, the challenges faced, and the decisions made. He noted that the book explores the nation's identity and America's role in the world.
The former president explained that he was diagnosed with cancer while writing the book. He mentioned that his doctors are encouraged by his response to treatment and that the support from the public has meant a great deal to him and his family. While he noted that some days are better than others and the illness can slow him down, he stated that it has not stopped him.
The Office of Joe and Jill Biden did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Similarly, the White House of President Trump did not immediately respond to a similar request for comment regarding the former president's recent remarks.
