ABC News host George Stephanopoulos said he doesn’t believe President Joe Biden can serve another four years as president.
The former Clinton communications director made the remarks answering a question from a passerby, seemingly not knowing he was being recorded. Though the audio was hard to make out, he indirectly confirmed his remarks in a statement to Puck News.
“Earlier today I responded to a question from a passerby. I shouldn’t have,” he told the outlet in a statement through a spokesperson.
An ABC News spokesperson distanced the company from the remarks, saying, “George expressed his own point of view and not the position of ABC News.”
Footage showing Stephanopoulos in workout clothes on the streets of New York was published by TMZ on Tuesday, in which a passerby asked the host, “Do you think Biden should step down? You’ve talked to him more than anybody else has lately.”
“I don’t think he can serve four more years,” he appeared to respond.
The ABC News host’s interview with Biden was viewed by 8.5 million people. It was seen by Biden and his team as a crucial test to show off his cognitive abilities, assuring a frightened Democratic Party that he was still up for the job after a disastrous debate performance.
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Despite hyping up the interview, his performance didn’t impress many. Particularly harsh in his criticism was top Democratic strategist and former Obama adviser David Axelrod.
“Biden could be excused for wanting to put his awful debate performance in the rear view mirror. That was his purpose Friday in sitting down for the interview — to try and quell the panic that has gripped the Democratic Party,” he wrote in an op-ed for CNN. “He didn’t succeed.”
