'Don't cheat': Alex Wagner trolled for saying Biden will face 'more scrutiny' from media on June 27 Trump debate

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Alex Wagner, the host of MSNBC, expressed concern that President Joe Biden would face a "structural disadvantage" in the forthcoming debates because he was held to a "much higher" standard than his Republican opponent, the former President Donald Trump.

"It already feels like the bar that is set for Biden to clear is so much more substantially higher than the one Trump has to clear. Which is literally, ‘Is he alive?’ ‘Is he standing?’ ‘Are there words coming out of his mouth?’" Wagner said during her Saturday night program on June 15, per Fox News.

Alex Wagner's guest journalist Susan Glasser on Donald Trump's rallies

Wagner was talking about a recent piece written by her guest, Susan Glasser of The New Yorker, in which she claimed that Trump's "age-related decline" was the reason behind his "incoherent rambles" at rallies, rendering him unfit for office.

"I would say even from 2016 to 2020 to 2024, the progress of a Trump rally shows you pretty clearly a man on a sharp downward slope," Glasser told Wagner.

According to them, Trump's meandering tales do not garner the same level of media coverage as articles questioning Biden's growing age and mental state.

Alex Wagner says 'there’s way more scrutiny' on Joe Biden

The MSNBC host took issue with a statement provided by Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller to The New York Times, which asserted that Trump was ready for the debates because he "takes on numerous tough interviews every single week and delivers lengthy rally speeches while standing, demonstrating elite stamina."

"It's almost like what he says is beside the point," Wagner said. "The fact he’s up there standing, still talking is enough, the Trump team thinks, to placate anyone or dissuade them from thinking he’s somewhat adult. And thus far, they seem to be right."

"The fact of the matter is, there’s way more scrutiny on President Biden than there is on former President Trump, given the absurd tirades and non-sequiturs that are now part of his daily routine," she said.

Alex Wagner on if Joe Biden could overcome his 'structural disadvantage'

Wagner questioned whether Biden would be able to overcome his "structural disadvantage" in the eyes of the public in time for the June 27 debate.

"I wonder if there’s any way for Biden to overcome what seems like a structural disadvantage in the weeks leading up to what’s going to be a pretty important inflection point in this campaign," she said.

Glasser said Biden faced a "tougher task" than Trump because the former president catered his message to his followers "who don’t hold him accountable to the same standards as other public officials in this country."

"The challenge with running against Trump for Biden is it's not really a head-to-head contest in which they’re both being judged in the same terms," she said.

Internet says Joe Biden is pre-planning excuse before losing June 27 debate with Donald Trump

Netizens also gave their opinions after Wagner expressed concern for Biden. "Preplanned excuses for Biden losing debate?" questioned one X (formerly Twitter) user. Another added, "Biden will be a no-show." 

One mocked the president by tweeting, "Briben needs to take a drug test before the debate & after the debate. He will require heavy drugs to stay awake, alert & speak coherently."

Another wrote, "Joe Biden should take drug test before debate.. Don’t cheat !!"

"Wow! 'The bar for Biden is substantially higher... is he alive? Is he standing?' LOL you cannot make this stuff up," tweeted one.

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