Summary
Introduction
Following the first
2024 presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on June 27, 2024, former President Barack Obama publicly expressed support for Biden amid widespread criticism of
Biden's debate performance.
Obama's Public Statement
On June 28, 2024, Barack Obama posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) defending President Biden:"Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know," Obama wrote, referencing his own poor performance in his first debate against Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012. "But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn't change that, and it's why so much is at stake in November."Obama posted this statement at 2:36 PM ET on June 28, approximately 18 hours after the conclusion of the debate. Obama's statement included a link to Biden's campaign website.
Context of Obama's Support
Obama's reference to his own debate performance provided important historical context. As The Hill specifically noted, Obama "was famously criticized over his performance in his first debate of the 2012 cycle against then-Republican nominee Mitt Romney" but "then went on to win the election." This parallel suggested that a poor debate performance does not necessarily determine electoral outcomes.Obama's statement emphasized character and policy contrasts between Biden and Trump rather than debate performance, attempting to refocus the narrative on what Obama characterized as the fundamental choice in the election.Article Analyzed:
The Hill*There may be errors on this page.