Former President Barack Obama, who is no stranger to bad first debates, acknowledged President Joe Biden’s collar-tugging performance on Thursday night. And while he didn’t urge Biden to step aside, as some high-profile supporters have, he hardly gave his former VP a full-throated endorsement either.
Obama, who was also prepped by Biden’s debate coach Ron Klain before his October surprise of a debate with Mitt Romney in 2012, told followers in an X post on Friday afternoon: “Bad debate nights happen.