President Joe Biden opened the debate with a raspy voice and disjointed, rambling answers, reigniting Democratic concerns about his age and ability to take on former President Donald Trump.
Many of the president’s answers were hard to follow. At one point, seemingly losing his train of thought, Biden said “we finally beat Medicare,” misspeaking about his own policy on earned benefits.
In text messages with POLITICO, Democrats expressed confusion and concern as they watched the first minutes of the event. One former Biden White House and campaign aide called it “terrible,” adding that they have had to ask themselves over and over “What did he just say? This is crazy.”
CHUCK TODD: “Biden looks like the caricature that conservative media has been painting … you saw it before your eyes!” pic.twitter.com/Cogjqddf7w
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) June 28, 2024
It’s elder abuse, Joe looks like a handicapped person being talked to as if a baby … Jill is a bitch
“Joe, you did such a great job answering every question. You knew all the facts.”
Jill Biden is a monster.
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) June 28, 2024
MSNBC's Alex Wagner reporting from the spin room: "There has been a uniformly negative reaction to Biden's performance tonight." pic.twitter.com/zsdQb5kYA3
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) June 28, 2024
Ha!
OMG! pic.twitter.com/R87BQnvtzZ
— MAZE (@mazemoore) June 28, 2024
