'It will only get worse': Joe Biden trolled for joking he seems 25 years older than wife Jill Biden

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Following a lackluster debate performance that shook the Democratic Party, President Joe Biden spent the weekend in the Hamptons, aiming to boost his campaign funds.

At a fundraiser hosted by Barry Rosenstein, the founder of hedge fund JANA Partners, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden mingled with a wealthy crowd at Rosenstein's East Hampton mansion.

Despite widespread calls for Biden to step down after his shaky debate, the event was attended by numerous high-profile individuals, including former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, radio personality Howard Stern, Loews Hotels CEO Jonathan Tisch, Democratic megadonor Jennifer Bayer Michaels, and filmmaker Margaret Munzer Loeb.

Joe Biden's speech: Humor and reality

During the 15-minute speech at the fundraiser, Biden, 81, used a teleprompter—a rare choice for such intimate events. Nonetheless, he managed to bring some humor to the occasion, particularly by addressing the age gap between himself and Jill Biden.

Anthony Scaramucci shared with TheWrap, “Off-prompter Biden said [something]… which was heartwarming—the real Joe Biden.” Scaramucci recalled Biden’s joke: “When I met Jill, we were nine years apart in age. She was 25, and I was 34. Somehow, we’re now 25 years apart in age,” suggesting that he had aged more rapidly.

The joke, albeit funny, did not resonate with the audience in a way that the president would have preferred - as many found it too true to laugh at. “It was a funny line, but because it seems so true, I don’t think people wanted to laugh," Scaramucci recalled.

The former White House official noted that Biden appeared more energized at the fundraiser compared to his debate performance.

“He seemed more fired up, more himself than he did on Thursday,” Scaramucci said. “In his speech, he said that he had a bad debate night. ‘You get knocked down, you get back up again.'” Biden reportedly joked, “You don’t have to compare me to the almighty, you just have to compare me to the alternative.”

Despite Biden's confident demeanor, some attendees remained unconvinced. An anonymous donor commented, “I thought he was a two. It was like [Jill Biden] had sucked the lifeblood out of him. She was fire and brimstone, and he came out looking weak.”

A Democratic insider echoed this sentiment. “He spoke on a teleprompter at the Hamptons event, which was a matter of concern, because these events are usually off-the-cuff. Yet he was energized, he spoke better and seemed more like himself,” they told TheWrap anonymously.

“The harsh truth is that the only thing Democrats are concerned about is that Biden can survive election day and beat Trump,” the source added. “Nobody seems to care what the next four years would be [under Biden], it is all about the next six months. The focus is can Biden get through this election? And if he does, then they’ll figure it out.”

Advisors are pushing Biden to become more visible, urging him to increase his public engagements to reassure voters about his health. Recommendations include more frequent press conferences, town hall meetings, and debates.

“He should be out on ‘60 Minutes,’ he should be doing weekly press conferences, he should be doing town halls. People are truly worried about his health,” the insider noted.

Joe Biden's joke sparks major backlash

Biden's joke about the debate and his health at the fundraiser sparked significant backlash. Comments on Yahoo reflected a lot of skepticism about his fitness for office.

One reader remarked, “Hard to believe that Warren Buffett is 12 years older than Biden.”

"Joe's condition will only get worse. Sad this is happening," another chimed in.

"We do not have too many university presidents, corporate CEOs, and governors over the age of 70 for a reason: too old. Why only in government? Power corrupts," someone else offered.

"I have felt all along that it’s Jill Biden who was behind the decision to run for reelection. Watching Mrs Biden gush over the President’s performance after the debate was so humiliating," read a comment.

"Jill has certainly come big time to the forefront in all this. If your caretaker is taking over, you're being marginalized. Personally, I would prefer a President who doesn't need a caretaker," another remarked.

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