TIME's stinging take on Biden's debate disaster perfectly captures Democratic mood

Time Magazine has debuted a devastating cover featuring Joe Biden for their new issue
UPDATED JUN 29, 2024
TIME magazine’s brutal Joe Biden cover following debate debacle (@timemagazine/Instagram)
TIME magazine’s brutal Joe Biden cover following debate debacle (@timemagazine/Instagram)

WASHINGTON, DC: In the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s disastrous performance in his first debate with Donald Trump, TIME Magazine has released a cover with a bold headline reading 'Panic,' capturing the sentiment felt across the Democratic Party.

During the 90-minute televised debate, President Biden frequently mumbled, trailed off mid-sentence, and struggled to articulate his points. Former President Trump seized the opportunity to mock Biden’s sometimes unintelligible statements, leaving many political commentators to describe the mood inside the Democratic Party with one word: “Panic.”



 

Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities questioned following debate performance

TIME’s cover features a photo of Biden seemingly wandering off, a stark visual metaphor for the confusion and disarray highlighted by his debate performance. The 81-year-old president, who will turn 82 just weeks after the November election, faced increasing scrutiny over his cognitive abilities.

(Getty Images)
Joe Biden shared a post clarifying he will not quit the 2024 race amid his disastrous debate performance (Getty Images)

During an early question about national debt, Biden froze and delivered a rambling, incoherent response: “(We’re) making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person… er, eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the… uh… with the Covid. Excuse me, with, dealing with everything we had to do with… uh… look.” He concluded with, “we finally beat Medicare,” before the moderators moved on.



 

Despite speculation that Biden might step aside for another Democratic candidate, he remains committed to his campaign. According to CNN senior White House correspondent Kayla Tausche, Biden intends to participate in a second debate against Trump in September.

Addressing supporters at a North Carolina rally the day after the debate, Biden acknowledged his age and physical challenges but remained defiant. “I know I’m not a young man. I don’t walk as easily as I used to. I don’t talk as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to,” he said. “Well, I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. I know, like millions of Americans, when you get knocked down, you get back up.”



 

Trump, on the other hand, reveled in his opponent's struggles. At a rally in Virginia, he called Biden “grossly incompetent” and a “trainwreck.” Political analysts echoed these sentiments. “This was a disaster for Biden. Many Democrats are looking for a new candidate after this debate,” said Doug Muzzio, a retired public affairs professor at Baruch College.

Former President Donald Trump made several verbal gaffes during the Philadelphia MAGA rally (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump called Joe Biden a 'trainwreck' after the debate (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“Biden was tentative, rambling, and sometimes incoherent,” Muzzio continued. “Trump, on the other hand, was clear and relatively coherent. He looked like he knew what he was talking about. Even though he repeatedly lied, he lies in an articulate way.”

Internet commends TIME Magazine cover featuring Joe Biden

A social media user tweeted, "Historical cover"

Another added, "Panic is an understatement"

A third claimed, "Wow! Great one from Time. This ain't gonna be smooth for Dems."

A fourth said, "He is going to get another Ice-cream."

"It’s about to go down," read a tweet.



 



 



 



 



 

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.

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