Joe Biden’s ABC interview: 6 key answers POTUS gave to George Stephanopoulos
6 takeaways from Joe Biden's interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos
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
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
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
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'
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
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'
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.
