House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats criticized the debate format and defended President Biden's performance, while also attacking former President Donald Trump's integrity.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday suggested that some health care professionals have raised concerns that Donald Trump "has dementia," while she also fiercely defended President Biden after his performance in the first presidential debate.
During an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," Pelosi deflected concerns about Biden's age and mental state, arguing that the focus should be on Trump's "dishonesty."
Biden Allies Defend President After Debate Performance, Attack Trump
"Well, what do they think about the other guy?" Pelosi asked. "Do they think that he has the integrity to be president after that performance? Let us not make a judgment about a presidency based on one debate."
Pelosi's comments came after a tumultuous debate performance by Biden, which left many Democrats in the media shocked and dismayed. Biden's raspy voice and rambling answers raised concerns about his age and mental state, prompting some to call for him to step aside.
Biden Allies Defend President After Debate Performance, Attack Trump
However, several of Biden's allies took to the Sunday morning shows to defend the president, attacking Trump, CNN, and even wavering Democrats in the process.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., who had a difficult debate performance of his own in 2022 after a stroke, referenced his experience while arguing that one performance should not be the end of the world.
Biden Allies Defend President After Debate Performance, Attack Trump
"There's no value in, in any of those things. I mean, there was that same kind of a freak out after my debate. And in fact, I might even say that I had a more difficult evening than the president did," Fetterman said on "Fox News Sunday."
"And here I am right now, having this conversation. And I really like to remind to everybody watching that right now, Biden is one and Trump is still zero, and he's the only person that's ever beaten Trump. And I really believe that Joe Biden will do that again, despite all of the Democrats wetting the bed over that kind of thing."
Biden Allies Defend President After Debate Performance, Attack Trump
Former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, when asked on ABC's "The Week" whether Biden should run again, declined to give his opinion but said that one must base their decision as an individual.
"You know, I think it's just an individual choice, and you really can't generalize," Fauci said.
Fauci argued that he has had "very positive" experiences with Biden in the past, describing him as "right on point on things."
"He asks probing questions. He's right on point on things," Fauci said.
Meanwhile, former White House communications director Kate Bedingfield insisted on CNN's "State of the Union" that the debate did not change the election.
"The reality is the race has not fundamentally changed," Bedingfield said.
She added, "I think there's universal agreement [it] wasn't a great night for Joe Biden. He said as much. But what we see in all the data that has emerged since Thursday is the fundamental head-to-head hasn't shifted. People are not suddenly moving to Trump."
Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., criticized the debate set-up by CNN, arguing that there was no fact-checking.
"I don’t like the debate where nobody will do any fact-checking," Clyburn said on "State of the Union." "You just say what you want to say. You know it’s a lie. The guy told 30 some odd lies! And nobody checked him on it! And said that was up to Joe Biden to do it. I’m not too sure."
The debate performance has undoubtedly sparked a heated debate among Democrats, with some calling for Biden to step aside and others urging unity and continued support.
