George Stephanopoulos' dubious political past resurfaces before his first Biden interview after debate

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden is slated to be interviewed by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos for the first time since his poor debate performance, drawing attention to the veteran host's political background and recent on-air opinions.

Stephanopoulos has strong ties to the Democratic Party given that he was a top aide to Bill Clinton in the White House decades ago.

In 1994, a New Republic feature headlined, "The Kids Are Alright: Well, sort of. In Praise of the Stephanopoulites," described Stephanopoulos’ close friendship with Ron Klain - a longtime ally of Biden.

George Stephanopoulos' relationship with Bill Clinton became a sore spot during 2016 presidential cycle

During the 2016 presidential campaign, George Stephanopoulos's connection with the Clintons came under fire when he was discovered to be donating money to the Clinton Foundation and was forced to step down from hosting primary debates.

Stephanopoulos left the Clinton White House and joined ABC shortly following the president's reelection in 1996.

He currently hosts 'This Week' and 'Good Morning America', after rising quickly through the ranks as a correspondent and analyst.

George Stephanopoulos' infamous interview with ex-FBI Director James Comey

The high-profile interview that George Stephanopoulos conducted in 2018 with former FBI Director James Comey, the first one Comey had given since he was abruptly fired by then-President Donald Trump a year earlier, was severely criticized for a major editing error.

According to the complete transcript made public by ABC News, the network decided not to broadcast several significant scenes from its Sunday night special, including Comey's criticism of former President Barack Obama.

George Stephanopoulos didn't ask Joe Biden about son Hunter's laptop scandal in last interview

In the days preceding the 2020 presidential election, George Stephanopoulos neglected to question then-candidate Joe Biden about his son Hunter's scandalous laptop during an ABC town hall.

During the first Senate impeachment trial of Trump earlier that year, Stephanopoulos was seen on camera gesturing with a throat slash as ABC cut away from Trump's attorney Jay Sekulow taking questions from the media.

George Stephanopoulos ratcheted up his hostility towards Donald Trump this year

George Stephanopoulos intensified his animosity towards Donald Trump in the 2024 election cycle, squaring up with multiple Republicans for pledging to back their party's presumed nominee.

When Nikki Haley, the Republican presidential candidate in August of last year, said on 'Good Morning America' that Biden would not serve out his term in office, Stephanopoulos became agitated.

"Excuse me, excuse me," Stephanopoulos interrupted, per Fox News. "How do you know Joe Biden's not going to finish his term? What is that based on?"

Haley said that everyone believes Biden is just too old, but Stephanopoulos shot back. "What evidence you have that he's not going to finish the term? What Americans feel has no basis on whether he's going to finish his term or not."

Donald Trump is suing George Stephanopoulos for defamation

After claiming repeatedly on air that the former president was "found liable for rape," Donald Trump is presently suing George Stephanopoulos for defamation.

In reality, Trump was found civilly liable for sexual abuse in the E Jean Carroll case. However, ABC has maintained its support for Stephanopoulos.

George Stephanopoulos went viral for his dramatic anti-Donald Trump monologues in recent weeks

In recent weeks, George Stephanopoulos has gone viral for his dramatic anti-Donald Trump monologues on ABC's 'This Week'.

"In 1774, John Adams said, ‘representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty.' Two hundred-fifty years later, the heart and lungs of liberty are facing what may be the ultimate stress test," Stephanopoulos said following Trump's guilty verdict in his New York criminal trial.

He added, "But for now, the New York jurors have already presented their fellow citizens with a choice: do we want to be represented, to be led for the first time in history by a convicted felon? That answer will come in November." 

At the beginning of the trial in April, after listing all of Trump's other legal woes, Stephanopoulos told viewers, "It’s all too easy to fall into reflexive habits, to treat this as a normal campaign, where both sides embrace the rule of law, where both sides are dedicated to a debate based on facts and the peaceful transfer of power. But that is not what’s happening this election year."

George Stephanopoulos continues spouting anti-Donald Trump rhetoric on his recent book tour

During his most recent book tour, George Stephanopoulos persisted in his attacks on Donald Trump, saying that it would be "journalistic malpractice" to interview him live on television. Additionally, he stated that if Republicans reject the results of the 2020 election, he would stop speaking with them and refuse to address any issues that affect Americans. 

"I'm not going to participate in some kind of a sham where you somehow equate the legitimacy of an election or the peaceful transfer of power with a debate over tax cuts or environmental regulation," Stephanopoulos told CNN last month.

Internet thinks the upcoming Joe Biden interview with George Stephanopoulos will be 'scripted'

Netizens raised fingers and expressed concerns about the upcoming interview of Joe Biden with George Stephanopoulos.

One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, "How many video edits will there be? Lets place our bets."

Another wrote, "Let's be honest, the interview is going to have more cuts than an OJ crime scene..." 

"IMO, it will be heavily edited with prepared answers to softball questions," added one.

"Big deal, It will be all scripted already. He’ll know what the questions are. The world is in disorder. Need him to be in uncomfortable interview to see if he can handle an emergency in an uncomfortable world," remarked another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.