Joe Biden’s ABC interview: 6 key answers POTUS gave to George Stephanopoulos

From questions on his debate debacle to whether he will withdraw from the presidential race, Joe Biden answered all of these and more
PUBLISHED JUL 6, 2024
President Joe Biden's ABC News interview was mainly intended to quell concerns after his subpar presidential debate performance (screenshot/ABC News)
President Joe Biden's ABC News interview was mainly intended to quell concerns after his subpar presidential debate performance (screenshot/ABC News)

6 takeaways from Joe Biden's interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos

(Screenshot/ABC News)
President Joe Biden's ABC News sit-down was his first television interview since his dismal presidential debate performance against Donald Trump (screenshot/ABC News)

President Joe Biden had not appeared on television since his abysmal debate performance, in which he was unable to finish sentences, complete thoughts, or refute statements made by the presumed Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump. The 22-minute interview with George Stephanopoulos for ABC News on Friday, July 5, was the President's first since that debacle. During the interview, many crucial moments made headlines. Let us look at the 6 key answers the President gave to George Stephanopoulos.

1. President Biden ain't dropping out of race

President Joe Biden arrives for a memorial service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church at Emory University on November 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Rosalynn Carter, who passed away on November 19 at the age of 96, was married to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for 77 years. In her lifetime she was an activist and writer known to be an advocate for the elderly, affordable housing, mental health, and the protection of monarch butterflies. Every living first lady are expected to attend the service. (Photo by Brynn Anderson-Pool/Getty Images)
President Biden affirmed he will not be dropping out of the presidential race (Brynn Anderson-Pool/Getty Images)

As Stephanopoulos persisted in asking Biden if he would withdraw from the race if Democratic congressional leaders approached him and told him he couldn't beat Trump in November, Biden said, "Well, if the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me to do that, I might do that." He also said that his Democratic allies were not going to demand his exit. He added, "I'm not going to answer that question. It's not going to happen. I've not seen what you're proposing." Biden claimed that while he had heard concerns about his campaign "from the press", most Democrats have not expressed them.

2. Biden will not undergo cognitive test

(Getty Images)
Joe Biden declined to consent to an independent medical assessment (Getty Images)

Biden stated that he has not undergone a neurological or cognitive test to gauge his level of mental health and that he would not consent to an independent medical assessment. Considering the obligations and pressures of being President, he said he takes a cognitive test "every single day". He added, "No, no one said I had to. They said I'm good." He further said, "Everything I do, I have that test. Not only am I campaigning but I'm running the world."

3. Biden doesn't believe his low approval ratings

(Getty Images)
Joe Biden doesn't think he's behind Donald Trump even though he is trailing in almost every national poll (Getty Images)

Even though Biden is trailing Trump in almost every national poll and the majority of battleground states, Biden insisted he doesn't think he's behind right now. He said, "I don't buy that. All the pollsters I talk to tell me it's a toss-up." Additionally, Biden stated that he doesn't believe his popularity rating is as low as 36%, as shown by certain surveys. He added, "I don't believe that's my approval rating. That's not what our polls show."

4. Biden claims he's in 'good shape'

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - SEPTEMBER 27: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks during a campa
Joe Biden maintained he is in good physical and mental health (Getty Images)

Biden maintained that he is in good enough physical and mental health to complete four more years at the White House. He said, "Can I run a hundred in 110 flat? No. But I'm still in good shape." According to Biden, his health has not deteriorated since taking office three and a half years ago. 

5. Biden says he has not watched his highly-criticized debate

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the first presidential debate against former Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden at the Health Education Campus of Case Western Reserve University on September 29, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. This is the first of three planned debates between the two candidates in the lead up to the election on November 3.
Joe Biden claimed he was yet to watch his highly-criticized debate with Donald Trump (Getty Images)

Joe Biden claimed to not have watched his highly-criticized debate yet. Biden maintained that he was solely responsible for his performance and that he had reviewed the information in "explicit detail", just as he would before meeting with foreign leaders with his National Security Council. Biden admitted that he found it difficult to follow all of Trump's lies. Biden was questioned about recent remarks made by former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who said it was a "legitimate question" to inquire as to whether Biden's performance in the debate was a "bad episode" or an indication of a more severe "condition". To this, Biden said, "It was a bad episode. No indication of a more serious condition. I was exhausted. I didn't listen to my instincts in terms of preparing. I had a bad night."

6. Biden blames recent travel for his 'really bad cold'

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - JANUARY 16:  U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an announcement Jan
Joe Biden revealed he had a 'really bad cold' after he returned to the US 12 days before the debate (Getty Images)

Biden returned to the US 12 days before the debate. He was questioned about how he might have been fatigued after the recent foreign travel. To this Biden said, "Because I was sick. I was feeling terrible." He went on to say that he felt so ill that he had tests for Covid and other viruses done by his doctors, but the results were negative. He said, "They just said I had a really bad cold." Together with senior White House officials, Biden prepared for the debate at Camp David during the six days before it took place on June 27.

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