On Tuesday, George Stephanopoulos was seen walking the streets of New York City, casually dressed in a T-shirt, shorts, and over-the-ear headphones. He was approached by a stranger who asked for his opinion on President Joe Biden’s fitness for office.
“I don’t think he can serve four more years,” replied the ABC News anchor candidly. This came just days after his on-camera interview with Biden, the president’s first following the CNN presidential debate.
A video of Stephanopoulos’ remark was soon shared by TMZ, highlighting the media’s growing concerns about Biden’s capability to defeat Donald Trump in November and serve an additional term. Later that evening, Stephanopoulos expressed regret through a spokesperson, saying, “Earlier today I responded to a question from a passerby. I shouldn’t have.” He did not retract his statement, merely expressing that he shouldn’t have voiced it. ABC News clarified that Stephanopoulos’ comment reflected his personal view, not the network’s stance. Nonetheless, the damage was done.
Stephanopoulos is not alone in his skepticism. Many in the media share his doubts. The past two weeks have seen intense scrutiny, arguably sometimes over the top and irresponsible. Biden’s standing with the press corps has notably declined. Many journalists are skeptical of the narrative Biden’s campaign and the White House are promoting. The New York Times editorial board recently published a critical piece titled “To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race,” echoing calls from other prominent voices for him to step aside.
This eroding trust is a significant hurdle for Biden as he strives to persuade the American public of his capability. His every move and word are now intensely scrutinized, a troubling sign for any political candidate. Biden no longer benefits from the doubt; instead, skepticism prevails.
Despite Biden’s claim this week that he doesn’t care about the opinions of “the elites,” he surely understands, given his lengthy political career, that alienating the news media is not a winning strategy. Media coverage shapes public perception, and the recent negative press poses a serious threat to his campaign.
How Biden will navigate this media storm remains uncertain. So far, his efforts to regain trust have fallen short. The Stephanopoulos interview, intended to bolster his campaign, backfired, failing to convince even the hand-picked interviewer of his leadership ability.
The inability to persuade Stephanopoulos, chosen for Biden’s first post-debate interview, casts a shadow over his campaign’s prospects.
