Full Interview: President Biden Sits Down with ABC News

This episode centers on President Joe Biden's exclusive interview with ABC News, focusing on his recent debate performance and the implications for his reelection campaign.

1. Biden attributes his poor debate performance to exhaustion and insists it was an isolated incident, not indicative of deeper health issues.
2. He emphasizes his significant policy achievements and leadership on the international stage as evidence of his ongoing effectiveness.
3. Concerns about his age and cognitive abilities are directly addressed, with Biden asserting his physical and mental fitness for presidency.
4. Biden remains steadfast in his candidacy, dismissing suggestions of stepping down and highlighting his broad vision for America's future.
5. The interview reflects broader Democratic anxieties about the 2024 election's viability and potential impacts on the party.

1: Introduction and Background

In the episode's opening, host Brad Mielke introduces the high-stakes interview with President Biden, contextualizing it within the current political landscape. Brad Mielke: "This is Biden's first tv interview since that debate performance that prompted serious questions about whether he should end his reelection bid."

2: Addressing the Debate Performance

George Stephanopoulos questions Biden about his debate performance, exploring whether it was a bad night or indicative of a more serious condition. Joe Biden: "It was a bad episode. No indication of any serious condition. I was exhausted."

3: Campaign Resilience and Future Plans

Biden discusses his resilience following the debate, detailing his rigorous campaign schedule and future policy initiatives. Joe Biden: "After that debate, I did ten major events in a row, including until 02:00 in the morning."

4: Confronting Public and Political Concerns

Stephanopoulos probes deeper into the concerns about Biden's age and health, with Biden reinforcing his capacity to lead effectively. Joe Biden: "Are you more frail? No."

5: Closing Remarks and Political Analysis

The interview concludes with Biden reasserting his qualifications and readiness to continue in office, followed by political analysis from ABC News' team. George Stephanopoulos: "Thanks to President Biden for his time today."

1. Stay informed about candidates’ policies and past performances to make educated voting decisions.
2. Engage in political discussions to foster a well-rounded understanding of potential leadership qualities.
3. Participate in community and political events to gain firsthand experience of candidates’ platforms.
4. Utilize available resources to track election developments and candidate positions.
5. Encourage open dialogues about leadership qualities and expectations in political candidates.

In a bonus episode of Start Here, we air the exclusive interview of President Biden with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in full.

People

Joe Biden, George Stephanopoulos

Content Warnings:

None

Brad Mielke
Hey, it's Brad. And we've got a special bonus episode for you that we are dropping on the fly. You might have heard President Biden just sat down today with GMA co anchor and ABC this week anchor George Stephanopoulos. This is Biden's first tv interview since that debate performance that prompted serious questions about whether he should end his reelection bid. And this is such high stakes stuff that I just wanted to make sure all of our start here, listeners could hear this ASAP. So we're going to play this entire interview that just aired, just George and the president, of course. We will be back on Monday with reaction to this along with analysis. If you're not subscribed to start here, make sure to give us a follow. There's a lot of news happening real quickly right now, so if there's ever been a moment for a quick clear explainer every morning, this is it. In the meantime, here's George Stephanopoulos and President Biden as it aired on tv just moments ago.

George Stephanopoulos
Good evening from Madison, Wisconsin for a special edition of this week, the first broadcast interview with President Biden since last week's debate.

Earlier this afternoon we taped the 22 Minutes interview. There are no cuts, no edits. We have not touched it at this pivotal moment in the presidential campaign.

Here it is.

Mister President, thank you for doing this.

Joe Biden
Thank you for having me.

George Stephanopoulos
Let's start with the debate.

You and your team said, have said you had a bad night.

But your friend Nancy Pelosi actually framed the question I think is on the minds of millions of Americans. Was this a bad episode or the sign of a more serious condition?

Joe Biden
It was a bad episode.

No indicated any serious condition. I was exhausted.

I didn't listen to my instincts in terms of preparing and it was a bad night.

George Stephanopoulos
You know, you say you were exhausted and I know you've said that before as well, but you came and you did have a tough month. But you came home from Europe about eleven or twelve days before the debate, spent six days in Camp David. Why wasn't that enough rest time, enough recovery time?

Joe Biden
Because I was sick. I was feeling terrible. Matter of fact, the docs with me, I asked them, they did a COVID test. They were trying to figure out what was wrong. They did a test to see whether or not I had some infection, you know, a virus. I didn't, they just had a really bad cold.

George Stephanopoulos
And did you ever watch the debate afterwards?

Joe Biden
I don't think I did now.

George Stephanopoulos
Well, what I want to get at is what were you experiencing as you were going through debate. Did you know how badly it was going?

Joe Biden
Yeah. Look, the whole way I prepared nobody's fault, mine. Nobody's fault but mine.

I prepared what I usually would do sitting down as I did come back with foreign leaders or the National Security Council for explicit detail.

And I realized about partway through that, you know, although I get quoted, the New York Times had me down at ten points before the debate, nine now, or whatever the hell it is. The fact of the matter is that what I looked at is that he also lied 28 times. I couldn't. I mean, the way the debate ran, not my fault, nobody else's fault. No one else is.

George Stephanopoulos
But it seemed like you were having trouble from the first questionnaire even before he spoke.

Joe Biden
Well, I just had a bad night.

You've had some bad interviews once in a while. I can't remember any, but I'm sure you did.

George Stephanopoulos
I've had plenty.

I guess the question, the problem is here for a lot of Americans watching is you've said going back to 2020. Watch me.

To people who are concerned about your age and, you know, 50 million Americans watch that debate, it seemed to confirm fears they already had.

Joe Biden
Well, look, after that debate, I did ten major events in a row, including until 02:00 in the morning. After that debate, I did events in North Carolina, I did events in Georgia. I did events like this today. Large crowds, overwhelming response. No, no slipping. And so I just had a bad night. I don't know why.

George Stephanopoulos
And how quickly did it come to you that you were having that bad night?

Joe Biden
Well, Kane was having a bad night when I realized that even when I was answering a question, even though they turned his mic off, he was still shouting.

And I let it distract me. I'm not blaming on that, but I realized that I just wasn't in control.

George Stephanopoulos
Part of the other concern is that this seems to fit into a pattern of decline that has been reported on recently. New York Times had a headline on July 2, Biden's lapses are said to be increasingly common and worrisome. Here's what they wrote. People who have spent time with President Biden over the last few months or so said the lapses appear to have grown more frequent, more pronounced, and after Thursday's debate, more worrisome. By many accounts, as evidenced by video footage, observation and interviews, Mister Biden is not the same today as he was even when he took office three and a half years ago. Similar reporting in the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.

Are you the same man today that you were when you took office three.

Joe Biden
And a half years ago, in terms of successes, yes.

I also was the guy who put together a peace plan for the Middle east that may become a fruition. I was also the guy that expanded NATO. I was also the guy that grew the economy.

All the individual things that were done were ideas I had or I fulfilled. I moved on. And so, for example, you know, well, that was true then. What's Biden done lately?

Today just announced 200,000 new jobs. We're moving in a direction that no one's ever taken on. I know you know this from the days in the government. I took on big pharma. I beat them. No one said I could beat them. I took on all the things we said. We got done. We were told we couldn't get done.

Part of it is what I said when I ran was I wanted to do three things. Restore some decency to the office, restore some support for the middle class instead of trickle down economics built from the middle out and the bottom up. That way, the wealthy still do fine, everyone does better and unite the country.

George Stephanopoulos
But what has all that work over the last three and a half years cost you physically, mentally, emotionally?

Joe Biden
Well, I just think it cost me a really bad night, a bad run.

But, you know, George, I'm optimistic about this country.

I don't think we're a country losers that he points out. I don't think America's in tough shape. I think America's on the cusp of breaking through in so many incredible opportunities. This next term, I'm going to make sure we have a straighten out the tax system. I'm going to make sure we're in a situation where we have health care for all people. We're in a position where we have childcare and elder care free up and all these things. The one thing I'm proudest of. And remember when my economic plan was put forward, a lot of the mainstream economists say that's not going to work. Guess what? You now have 16 Nobel laureates, 16 of them in economics, saying that Biden's next term would be based on what he wants to do. Enormous success. Trump's plan would cause a recession, would significantly increase inflation.

I've made great progress, and that's what I plan on doing. And we can do this.

George Stephanopoulos
I understand that. And I'm not disputing that. What I'm asking you is about your personal situation. Do you dispute that there have been more lapses, especially in the last several months?

Joe Biden
Can I run the 110 flat? No.

But I'm still in good shape.

George Stephanopoulos
Are you more frail?

Joe Biden
No.

George Stephanopoulos
I know you spoke.

Joe Biden
I repeat my schedule.

George Stephanopoulos
I know you spoke with your doctor after the debate. What did he say?

Joe Biden
He said, he just looked at me. He said, you're exhausted.

I said, I have medical doctors traveling everywhere. Every president does, as you know, medical doctors, some of the best in the world, traveling me everywhere I go. I have an ongoing assessment of what I'm doing.

They don't hesitate to tell me if they think there's something wrong.

George Stephanopoulos
I know you said you have an angling assessment. Have you had a full neurological and cognitive evaluation?

Joe Biden
I get a full neurological test every day with me, and I've had a full physical. I had, you know, I mean, I've been involved with Reed for my physicals. I mean, yes, I know.

George Stephanopoulos
Your doctor said he consulted with a neurologist. I guess I'm asking a slightly different question. Have you had the specific cognitive tests, and have you had a neurologist, a specialist, do an examination?

Joe Biden
No, no one said I had to. No one said. They said I'm good.

George Stephanopoulos
Would you be willing to undergo an independent medical evaluation that included neurological and cognitive tests and release the results to the american people?

Joe Biden
Look, I have a cognitive test every single day.

Every day. I have that test.

Everything I do.

You know, not only am I campaigning, but I'm running the world. And that sounds like hyperbole, but we are the essential nation in the world. Madeleine Albright was right.

And every single day. For example, today, before I come out here, I'm on the phone with the prime minister of, I shouldn't get into detail, but with Netanyahu, I'm on the phone with the new prime minister of England. I'm working on what we were doing with regard to in Europe, with regard to expansion of NATO, and whether it's going to stick. I'm taking on Putin. I mean, every day, there's no day I go through. They're not those decisions I have to make every single day.

George Stephanopoulos
And you have been doing that, and the american people have been watching, yet their concerns about your age and your health are growing. So that's why I'm asking to reassure them. Would you be willing to have the independent medical evaluation?

Joe Biden
Watch me between. There's a lot of time left in this campaign.

There's over 125.

George Stephanopoulos
The right answer right now is no, you don't want to do that right now.

Joe Biden
I've already done it.

George Stephanopoulos
You talked a lot about your successes at the beginning of this interview, and I don't want to dispute that. I don't want to debate that. But as you know, elections are about the future, not the past. They're about tomorrow, not yesterday. And the question on so many people's minds right now is, can you serve effectively for the next four years?

Joe Biden
George?

I'm the guy that put NATO together, the future.

No one thought I could expand it. I'm the guy that shut Putin down. No one thought could happen. I'm the guy that put together a South Pacific initiative with Aukus. I'm the guy that got 50 nations, not only in Europe, outside of Europe as well, to help Ukraine. I'm the guy that got Japanese to experience expand their budget.

So, I mean, these. And for example, when I decided we used to have 40% computer chip, and we invented the chip, that little chip, computer chip. It's in everything from cell phone to weapons.

And so we used to have 40%, and we're down to virtually nothing. So I get in the plane, against the advice of everybody, and I fly to South Korea. I convinced them to invest in the United States. Billions of dollars. Now we have tens of billions of dollars being invested in the United States, making us back in a position. We're going to own that industry again.

We have. I mean, I guess, anyway, I don't want to take too much credit. I have a great staff.

George Stephanopoulos
But all that, I guess my point is all that takes a toll. Do you have the mental and physical capacity to do it for another four years?

Joe Biden
Be running if I didn't think I did?

Look, I'm running again because I think I understand best what has to be done to take this nation to a completely new level. We're on our way. We're on our way.

And look, the decision recently made by the Supreme Court on immunity, you know, the next president of the United States, it's not just about whether he or she knows that the doing, it's not about a conglomerate of people making decisions. It's about the character of the president.

The character of the president is going to determine whether or not this constitution is employed the right way.

George Stephanopoulos
Let me ask you a tougher, more personal question.

Are you sure you're being honest with yourself when you say you have the mental and physical capacity to serve another four years?

Joe Biden
Yes, I am, because it's just, George, the last thing I want to do is not be able to meet that.

I think, as some of senior economists and senior foreign policy specialists say, if I stop now, I'd go down history as a pretty successful president.

No one thought I could get done when we got done.

George Stephanopoulos
But are you being with honest with yourself as well about your ability to defeat Donald Trump right now.

Joe Biden
Yes, yes, yes, yes.

George Stephanopoulos
You say that. And let me challenge you because you were close but behind going into the debate.

You're further behind now by any measure. It's been a two man race for several months. Inflation has come down in those last few months. He's become a convicted felon, yet you're still falling further behind.

Joe Biden
You guys keep saying that. George, do you look, you know, know polling better than anybody? Do you think polling data is as accurate as it used to be?

George Stephanopoulos
I don't think so. But I think when you look at all the polling data right now, it shows that he's certainly ahead in the popular vote, probably even more ahead in the battleground states. And one of the other key factors there is it shows that in many of the battleground states, the Democrats who are running for Senate in the House are doing better than you are.

Joe Biden
Well, that's not unusual in some states. I carried an awful lot of Democrats last time I ran in 2020. Look, I remember them telling me the same thing in 2020. I can't win. The polls show I can't win. Remember 2020? The red wave was coming before the vote. I said, that's not going to happen. We're going to win. We did better in an off year than almost any incumbent president ever has done. They said in 2025, all the tough races were not going to win. I went into all those areas, all those districts, and we won.

George Stephanopoulos
All that is true. But 2020 was a close race, and your approval rating has dropped significantly since then. I think the last poll I saw is about 36%. The number of Americans who think you're too old to serve has doubled since 2020. Wouldn't a clear eyed political calculus tell you that it's going to be much tougher to win in 2024?

Joe Biden
Not when you run against a pathological liar.

Not when he hadn't been challenged in a way that he's about to be challenged.

George Stephanopoulos
Not when people, you've had months to challenge him.

Joe Biden
Oh, I sure had months. But I was also doing a hell of a lot of other things, like wars around the world, like keeping NATO together, like working, anyway.

George Stephanopoulos
But look, do you really believe you're not behind right now?

Joe Biden
I think it's all upholsters I talk to tell me it's a toss up.

It's a toss up. And when I'm behind, there's only one poll I'm really far behind, CB's poll and NBC. I mean, excuse me.

George Stephanopoulos
And New York Times and NBC both have you about six points behind in the popular vote.

Joe Biden
That's exactly right. The New York Times had me behind before anything happened to do with this race. Had me behind ten points. Ten points had me behind. Nothing's changed substantially from the debate in the New York Times poll.

George Stephanopoulos
Just when you look at the reality, though, mister president, I mean, you won the popular vote in 2020, but it was still deadly close in the electoral college.

Yes, but you're behind now in the popular vote.

Joe Biden
I don't buy that.

George Stephanopoulos
Is it worth the risk?

Joe Biden
I don't think anybody's more qualified to be president win this race than me.

George Stephanopoulos
You know, the heart of your case against Donald Trump is that he's only out for himself, putting his personal interests ahead of the national interest.

How do you respond to critics who say that by staying in the race, you're doing the same thing?

Joe Biden
Oh, come on.

Well, I don't think those critics know what they're talking about.

George Stephanopoulos
They're just wrong.

Joe Biden
It's wrong.

Look, Trump is a pathological liar.

Trump is. He is.

Have you ever seen anything Trump did that benefited somebody else? Not him?

You can't answer. I know.

George Stephanopoulos
I've questioned him and his allies as persistently as any journalist has.

Joe Biden
Oh, I know you have. I'm not being critical. I'm not being critical, but look, I mean, the man is a congenital liar.

As I said, they pointed out in that debating lie 27, 28 times. The Times or whatever number over 20 times.

Talk about how good his economy was, how he brought down inflation, how this is a guy who, unlike only other presidents other than him, it's Hoover, lost more jobs than he created. This is a guy who told us to put bleach in our arms to deal with.

Over a million people died. This is the guy who talks about wanting to get rid of the healthcare provision we put in place. This is the guy who wants to give the power back to big pharma to be able to charge exorbitant prices for drugs. This is the guy who wants to undo every single thing I've done, every single thing.

George Stephanopoulos
I understand that, and I understand that's why you want to stay in the race. But if you convince yourself that only you can defeat him.

Joe Biden
I convinced myself of two things. I'm the most qualified person to beat him, and I know how to get things done.

George Stephanopoulos
If you can be convinced that you cannot defeat Donald Trump, will you stand down.

Joe Biden
With the friends? The Lord almighty comes out and tells me that I might do that.

George Stephanopoulos
Well, I mean, on a more practical level, Washington Post just reported in the last hour that Senator Mark Warner is assembling a group of senators together to try and convince you to stand down because they don't think you can win.

Joe Biden
Well, Mark is a good man. We've never had that. He also tried to get the nomination, too. Mark's not.

Mark and I have a different perspective. I respect him.

George Stephanopoulos
And if Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi come down and say, we're worried that if you stay in the race, we're going to lose the house in the.

How will you respond?

Joe Biden
I go into detail with them. I've speak to all of them in detail, including Jim Clyburn, every one of them. They all said I should stay in the race. Stay in the race. No one said, none of the people said I should leave them.

George Stephanopoulos
But if they do, well, it's like.

Joe Biden
We'Re not going to do that.

George Stephanopoulos
You sure?

Joe Biden
Yeah, I'm sure.

Look, I mean, if the Lord Almighty came down and said, joe, get out of the race, I get out of the race. The Lord Almighty is not coming down.

I mean, these hypotheticals, George, if.

George Stephanopoulos
I mean, but it's not that hypothetical anymore. I grant that they have not requested the meeting, but it's been reported.

Joe Biden
I met with them.

I've met with a lot of these people.

I've talked with them regularly.

I had an hour conversation with Akeem. I had more time than ever than Jim Clyburne. I spent time with many hours off and on the last little bit with Chuck Schumer.

It's not like I had all the governors, all the governors.

George Stephanopoulos
I agree that the Lord Almighty is not going to come down. But if you are told reliably from your allies, from your friends and supporters in the Democratic Party, in the House and the Senate, that they're concerned you're going to lose the House and the Senate if you stay in, what will you do?

Joe Biden
I'm not going to answer that question. It's not going to happen.

George Stephanopoulos
What's your plan to turn the campaign around?

Joe Biden
You saw it today.

How many people you get draw crowds like I drew today?

Do you find me more enthusiastic than today?

George Stephanopoulos
I mean, I don't think you want to play the crowd game. Donald Trump can draw big crowds. There's no question about you can draw a big crowd.

Joe Biden
But what does he say?

Who does he have?

I'm the guy supposedly in trouble.

We raised $38 million within four days after this.

We have over a million individual contributors.

Individual contributors. Less than $200.

I mean, I've not seen what you're proposing.

George Stephanopoulos
You haven't seen the falloff in the polls. You haven't seen the reports of discontent in the democratic party, House Democrats, Senate Democrats.

Joe Biden
I've seen it from the press.

George Stephanopoulos
You know, I've heard from dozens of your supporters over the last few days and a variety of views, I grant you that. But the prevailing sentiment is this.

They love you, and they will be forever grateful to you, you, for defeating Donald Trump in 2020. They think you've done a great job as president, a lot of the successes you outlined, but they are worried about you and the country, and they don't think you can win.

They want you to go with grace, and they will cheer you if you do. What do you say to them?

Joe Biden
I say the vast majority are not where those folks are.

I don't doubt there's some folks there.

Have you ever seen a group at a time when elected officials running for office aren't a little worried?

Have you ever seen that? I've not.

Same thing happened in 2020. Oh, Biden, I don't know, man. What's he going to do?

He may bring me down. He may.

George Stephanopoulos
Mister president. I've never seen a president 36% approval get reelected.

Joe Biden
I don't believe that's my approval. That's not what our polls show.

George Stephanopoulos
And if you stay in and Trump is elected and everything you're warning about comes to pass, how will you feel in January?

Joe Biden
I feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the goodest job as I know I can do. That's what this is about.

Look, George, think of it this way.

You've heard me say this before. I think the United States and the world is at an inflection point where the things that happen in the next several years are going to determine what the next six, seven decades look like and who's going to be able to hold NATO together like me?

Who's going to be able to be in a position where I'm able to keep the Pacific basin in a position where we're at least checkmate in China. Now, who's going to do that? Who has that reach?

Who knows? All these we're going to have. I guess a good way to judge me is you're going to have now the NATO conference here in the United States next week.

Come listen, see what they say.

George Stephanopoulos
Mister President, thanks for your time.

Joe Biden
Thank you.

Brad Mielke
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George Stephanopoulos
ABC News also offered a one on one interview to Donald Trump after the debate. He declined.

Let's bring in our political team for what they're hearing. Let me start out with our chief Washington correspondent John Carl. And John, you watched, you watched the interview. You've been talking to people all across Washington. What are you hearing?

D
Well, George, look, Biden looked better and certainly more coherent than he looked during the debate.

But there was nothing in this interview that is calming nerves of jittery Democrats who fear that Joe Biden is on a trajectory to lose this race, to lose to Donald Trump. In fact, for some of those people, the interview is raising new concerns, particularly the fact that he is unwilling or unaware of the fact that he is in a dire situation here regarding the campaign, that he is losing in the view of many Democrats, and frankly in the polls, you cited that he is losing to Donald Trump. And there was one question that you asked where his answer is, particularly, I believe, alarming to some of those Democrats. You asked him how he will feel in January if he has lost to Donald Trump and all that he has warned would happen came to pass. And this was his answer. He said, I'll feel as long as I gave it my all and did the best job I know I can do that. That's what this is about.

One prominent ally of the president simply responded to me, wow, when I asked about that question. So the bottom line here, there was nothing in this interview that will force Joe Biden out of the race. There was no major thing that will convince him or any of his allies. I believe they have to go. But theres also nothing in this interview, that will calm the nerves of Democrats who were saying it is time for him to get out.

George Stephanopoulos
Martha Raditz, the president is talking to a lot of people, but he appears to be listening to a very tight.

E
Circle, a very tight circle. And administration officials I have spoken to said that very tight inner circle is telling them he can win, that he needs to keep going. This, of course, includes his wife Jill, who they said is lashing out at those who want him to get out of the race. This was a Joe Biden pumped up on his inner circle, telling him that again and again they think he will have many opportunities. But those not in the inner circle say this will also expose him to a great deal of risk. And George, I've talked to a few people, too, and texting with a few people as well on the hill. They say it was better than they expected, wasn't as bad as they expected, but that's a pretty low bar.

George Stephanopoulos
George and Mary Bruce, what are you hearing from the White House?

F
George, the White House night reacting in one word, strong. Look, you heard, heard the president there and his team strongly do believe that this is all being overblown, that Joe Biden has been underestimated and written off before, only to come back strong and win. They believe if he can continue to do interviews like this, if he can continue to get out in front of the american people, that this, too, shall pass. But the president there truly didn't seem to grasp the severity of this moment, the magnitude of that growing chorus of concern from Democrats dismissed that dismissed the trends that we are seeing in the polls. But what we are hearing from Democrats isn't concerned about one bad night. They are concerned that Joe Biden doesn't have what it takes not only to continue governing, but that he has what it takes to win. But the president is adamant that he is still the best one to take on Donald Trump. And you heard there, he clearly doesn't want to entertain the possibility that Democrats may come to him and urge him to step aside, saying only the Lord Almighty could convince him of that.

G
George.

George Stephanopoulos
And that is the key question right now. So I want to go to our senior congressional correspondent, Rachel Scott. The most important audience probably right now for the president and the White House are those democratic leaders on Capitol Hill. And there has been some ferment in the last couple of hours.

G
Exactly, George. And they were watching tonight. I can tell you that, in fact, just minutes before your interview aired, you had a fourth democratic lawmaker come forward in the House and call on the president to step aside. That was Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois. I have talked to a number of Democrats that were glued in watching this interview. One democratic senator telling me that the president is clear eyed about the demands of the presidency, the urgency of the moment, and the importance of defeating Donald Trump. But others say that they still have concerns that the dam hasn't broken tonight, but the bleeding has not stopped either. Another Democrat telling me better but not sure that it's enough that they need more than one interview, more than 22 minutes to prove that the president has the stamina to continue in this race and defeat Donald Trump. A different Democrat. Putting it to me this way, George, there's no question that Biden must win the election, but he will not be in a position to stop a movement. And tonight, George, that movement against him is growing.

George Stephanopoulos
Well, and that's what I want to get into with John. Carl, in a little more detail. John, we talked about, about Mark Warner, senator from Virginia, battleground state. The Democrats have won the past few elections, but appears to be more in play right now. He's circulating that letter.

Joe Biden
Yeah.

D
And I've spoken to colleagues of Senator Warner's who have spoken to him about this.

It's a serious effort.

Senator Warner's concerns, he has real concerns about whether or not Biden can beat Donald Trump. He thinks he's come to a pivotal moment for the party and for the nation. And his concerns are not alone. Frankly, a lot of other Democrats have been unwilling to speak publicly because they want Biden to come to this on his own. And they're concerned that coming out and speaking publicly will only backfire.

George Stephanopoulos
But it is a wide one last meeting with and Rachel Scott, Hakeem Jeffries, the democratic leader in the House, has now called House Democrats for a Zoom meeting on Sunday.

G
And this will be coming right before Democrats head back to Capitol Hill that is going to be pivotal. I'm told that the democratic leader has been measured in his approach, really trying to calm the nerves and give the president the space to make this decision. But he is getting quite an earful from House Democrats who are concerns about if the president can defeat Donald Trump this November.

George Stephanopoulos
George?

Mary Bruce, you had that one word response from the White House campaign weighing in now as well.

F
George. The campaign understandably is eager to turn this back to Donald Trump and back to the issues. Look, they're thinking on all of this is that this shouldn't be about, you know, performance, that this is about the issues and the substance they want, you know, as the president tried to do there in your interview. They want to hammer what the president has accomplished, what he could do going forward, and are obviously very eager to make sure to highlight what is at stake here. The challenge is that so much of that has now been overshadowed by these questions about the president's age. And that is what Democrats are deeply concerned about, that the messaging here is being lost in the way it is being delivered. The question is whether or not the president's interview tonight, whether or not his appearances that we have seen in the last few days and will see in the days to come, whether that is going to be enough to quell any of this concerning, get Democrats back on track.

George Stephanopoulos
The fact that all of us face Martha Raditz, none of us can stop the clock.

E
No, no one can stop the clock. And this is about age. Thats exactly what thats about. And this will dominate this campaign. Aging is not like a broken bone. It doesnt get better. So there is an opportunity every time he goes out, every time Joe Biden goes out, that he will show his age. I mean, he said he is not more frail. You ask him. You told him, you say, watch me. Everyone is watching. And believe me, they are going to be watching even more closely as we go forward.

George Stephanopoulos
George, thanks to all of you. Thanks to President Biden for his time today. Have a good night.

Brad Mielke
Ok. There you have it. At a crisis moment, President Biden's first interview since debate night. Obviously a lot to digest. There will be reaction all weekend across ABC's platforms, including Good Morning America, world news, and, of course, this week with George Stephanopoulos. On Monday morning, we will be back right here to break it all down with our team of experts and analysts on start here. I'm Brad Milke. See you then.