Biden Downplays Infamous 2024 CNN Debate as ‘Not Very Consequential’

Former President Joe Biden dismissed the significance of his underwhelming performance in the controversial 2024 CNN debate against Donald Trump, according to a recent People magazine interview released on Wednesday. Speaking candidly, Biden acknowledged that "making a mistake in a debate" is not uncommon, and emphasized that the event was "not very consequential" for him personally.

The June 27, 2024, debate was a turning point that fueled concerns about Biden's age and suitability to hold office, given his apparent difficulty in delivering coherent answers and finishing sentences. This perceived inadequacy triggered a cascade of public scrutiny and pressure from Democratic officials, ultimately prompting Biden to withdraw from the presidential race on July 21.

The debate drew an astounding 51.3 million viewers across television networks, with CNN alone capturing 9.53 million viewers, marking its highest-rated program ever. However, the debate itself overshadowed most of the candidates' policy discussions, leaving Biden's halting performance as the primary story. Biden's wife, Jill Biden, also defended their decision to run for another term, citing initial plans to step down after the first presidential term, which were subsequently altered due to Democrats' strong performance in the 2022 midterms.

After the debate, Biden's withdrawal from the race was announced just 24 days later, following a series of reassurances to voters and Democratic leaders. He subsequently endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who went on to lose the election to Trump in November 2024.