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Former President Joe Biden is facing sharp backlash after dismissing his disastrous 2024 debate performance against President Donald Trump as “not very consequential” — despite dropping out of the presidential race just 24 days later.
When asked about what his “perspective” on the June 27, 2024 debate is now in an interview with People Magazine released Wednesday, Biden suggested he felt his debate performance was inconsequential.
“Look, I don’t know anybody who hasn’t made a mistake in a debate,” Biden told People Magazine. “To me, it was not very consequential. First of all, I thought there’d be another debate, which there wasn’t.”
JILL BIDEN SAYS SHE THOUGHT JOE WAS HAVING A STROKE DURING HIS DISASTROUS 2024 DEBATE PERFORMANCE
Former President Joe Biden speaks with moderator Jake Tapper as former first lady Dr. Jill Biden looks on after a presidential debate with Donald Trump in Atlanta, Ga., on June 27, 2024. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
“But notwithstanding the fact that there wasn’t another debate, it didn’t disturb me because it wasn’t consequential,” he added.
Biden’s comments drew swift criticism on social media on Wednesday.
SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS AFTER JILL BIDEN REVEALS SHE WAS ‘FRIGHTENED’ WATCHING JOE’S DISASTROUS DEBATE
“Joe Biden now claims his 2024 presidential debate against President Trump, which forced him to drop out of the race, was not very consequential,” former Trump campaign operative Steve Cortes wrote Wednesday in an X post.
“Just 24 days after the ‘not very consequential’ presidential debate, Joe Biden ended his campaign for President,” Cortes added.
Conservative commentator Steve Guest wrote on X that Biden “is TOTALLY delusional.”
Meanwhile, former National Republican Senatorial Committee senior adviser Matt Whitlock asserted in a Wednesday post on X that it was actually “the most consequential” presidential debate of all time.
“It was without question the most consequential Presidential debate in history – he [Biden] likely would have stayed the nominee without it,” Whitlock said. “But I’m definitely excited for the other hot takes in the book now.”
“It was the most lopsided debate in history. C’mon, man!” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis quipped.
Former US First Lady Dr. Jill Biden revealed that she thought then-President had had a stroke during his 2024 debate with then-candidate Donald Trump. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
During the presidential debate, Biden stumbled over his words, paused for long periods of time and displayed confused facial expressions.
The Office of Joe and Jill Biden did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
“Biden subsequently dropped out of the presidential race on July 21, 2024, just a few weeks after the debate, amid mounting pressure from Democratic allies to end his re-election bid.
Former first lady Jill Biden notably claimed in a CBS News Sunday Morning interview clip released in May 2026 that she thought her husband was having a stroke on stage during the debate.
Trump’s White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden speak with CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash after the CNN presidential debate in Atlanta, Ga., on June 27, 2024. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Additionally, Biden said Sunday that he plans to scale back public appearances promoting his new presidential memoir, “Promise Me, America,” due to his cancer battle.
“My presidential memoir, PROMISE ME, AMERICA, is coming out on November 17th. I hope you’ll read it. It covers my years as President. The challenges we faced, the decisions I made, and why I made them. It’s about who we are as a nation,” Biden said in an X post. “What we stand for. And America’s role in the world.”
“While writing the book, I was diagnosed with cancer, a disease known all too well to millions of Americans and their families,” the former president added. “My doctors continue to be encouraged by how I’ve responded to treatment. And the prayers and kind words and well wishes from so many of you have meant more to me and Jill and our family than you can ever know. Some days are better than others. It hasn’t stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down.”