FnF News
FNF News | U.S. Politics
Published: June 28, 2025
By: Khadija Khan, Senior White House Correspondent
Biden Faces Fierce Fallout After Debate Performance: Allies Panic, GOP Sharpens Knives
Washington, D.C. — The aftershocks of President Joe Biden’s Thursday night CNN debate performance are reverberating throughout the political landscape, with top Democratic strategists, donors, and elected officials reportedly alarmed by his perceived lack of clarity, energy, and control during his face-off against Donald Trump. A video posted on YouTube (watch here) shows Biden struggling through responses, raising serious questions about the viability of his 2025 reelection bid.
“It was painful. I’ve defended him for four years. Tonight, I don’t know if I can,” said a Democratic donor quoted anonymously in The Atlantic.
The fallout has sparked new calls among some Democrats for Biden to reconsider his candidacy, while Republicans have seized the moment to portray him as mentally and physically unfit for a second term.
Moment by Moment: Hesitations, Freezes, and Gaffes
At several points during the debate, Biden appeared to lose his train of thought mid-sentence. A notable moment occurred when he tried to contrast his foreign policy with Trump’s and paused awkwardly, muttering, “We beat Medicare… I mean, we… the program…”
Republican operatives instantly clipped the moment and blasted it across social media. Within hours, hashtags like #BidenFreeze, #StepAsideJoe, and #DebateDisaster were trending.
“If this was a job interview, he wouldn’t get called back,” said Fox News anchor Jesse Watters.
Even mainstream outlets like CNN and NBC News ran somber post-debate panels questioning whether Biden should remain the Democratic nominee.
Panic in the Donor Class
According to multiple sources familiar with post-debate briefings, major Democratic donors and bundlers expressed alarm in private calls with the Biden campaign. Some reportedly urged the campaign to consider an emergency path to transition the nomination to another candidate, possibly Vice President Kamala Harris, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, or California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“We love Joe. But this is a crisis of confidence. If Trump mops the floor in the next debate, it’s over,” said one Democratic bundler in New York.
The GOP Smells Blood
The Trump campaign wasted no time releasing a new ad mocking Biden’s performance, ending with the slogan: “America needs strength, not stumbles.” Trump himself mocked Biden on Truth Social:
“He couldn’t remember the name of his own Secretary of State. SAD. The world is watching.”
Other Republicans joined the pile-on:
- Sen. J.D. Vance: “This is elder abuse disguised as a candidacy.”
- Rep. Lauren Boebert: “The Democrats knew and did it anyway.”
Trump allies now say they will push harder for a national referendum on competence and energy, not just policy.
Biden Campaign Response
In response to the growing criticism, the Biden-Harris campaign issued a statement defending the president:
“Joe Biden had a slow start but finished strong. He knows what’s at stake and will continue fighting for America’s future. One night doesn’t define a presidency.”
However, behind closed doors, senior aides are reportedly scrambling to manage the optics and prepare Biden more aggressively for any future appearances.
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee has gone into “crisis mode,” holding emergency meetings to game out potential alternatives should Biden voluntarily step down after the convention.