Jen Psaki makes shocking admission about Biden's debate
Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki warned President Biden's first major interview following his poor debate performance might not be enough to quiet concerns, calling it 'just okay.' The 81-year-old president has been facing immense pressure from some Democrats to step aside after his stumbling showing in Atlanta raised questions about his fitness for a second term, but the president insists he's staying in the race.
Psaki, now a host on MSNBC, started her show on Sunday by addressing the president's interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Friday where he pushed back on concerns. 'I watched it. I've watched a lot of these. I've prepped him and others for a lot of these. I would say it went just okay for the president,' Psaki said.
'I mean in many ways people watching saw what they wanted to see because for some he looked better than he did at the debate. He did. He was more clear. He seemed much better prepared to make his case and make the case against Trump,' she continued. 'But there were also some moments and not just one that did not go well.' Psaki said when the interview ended, it 'left us all in this sort of purgatory for the moment' and said it 'wasn't a home run at all.'
She noted a CBS News poll from last week which showed 72 percent of voters who believe Biden does not have the mental or cognitive health to serve, saying one interview 'definitely doesn't have the capacity' to change that perception. Psaki also suggested the freakout from Democrats is not going away any time soon.
'The questions I know I’m getting from text messages from friends, from family are twofold: What’s going to happen and what is the best path forward?' Psaki said. 'And I’m not going to sit here this afternoon and tell you I know the answer to either question.' Biden sought to quiet the panic over his debate performance when he sat down for his first network interview in Wisconsin after the debate.
The president did better during the high-stakes sit down than he had at the podium beside Donald Trump. He did not have any major gaffes. But he still remained less than convincing and rambling in his answers at times. 'I just had a bad night,' Biden told Stephanopoulos of the debate. 'I don't know why.'
The president dismissed the doubters, arguing questions over his ability to defeat Trump are coming from the press and not the vast majority of voters. He also rejected his low approval rating and insisted he was staying in the race. 'If the Lord Almighty came down and said, "Joe, get out of the race," I’d get out of the race,' Biden said. 'The Lord Almighty’s not coming down.'
Biden has also joined a series of other interviews and made appearances on the campaign trail since the disastrous debate. He campaigned in Wisconsin on Friday and Pennsylvania on Sunday. On Monday morning, Biden called into MSNBC's Morning Joe where he fielded tough questions over his performance and ability to beat Trump from its co-hosts.
During the interview, he went after Trump's debate performance, blasting the ex-president as a liar and arguing he beat him in 2020 and would do it again. The president also slammed those calling for him to exit the race as the 'elite.'
