Following a challenging debate performance by President Joe Biden, reports have surfaced that his campaign staff attempted to cut off interviews with voters who were critical of the president.
The aftermath has seen increased speculation about Biden's future in the 2024 presidential race as well as some campaign staffers' efforts to control negative narratives.
The Daily Caller reported that the incident in question occurred on Thursday, June 28, 2024, during a debate at a CNN studio where President Biden faced off against former President Donald Trump.
This debate format was unique, featuring no live audience and the ability to cut off participants' microphones. Thirty minutes into the debate, Biden struggled through his responses, even freezing at one point.
This performance led to growing concerns among Democrats, some of whom began urging Biden to consider withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race.
On the following day, Friday, June 29, 2024, several reporters claimed that Biden's campaign staff intervened to stop interviews with voters when they expressed negative opinions about the president.
One such incident took place at a rally in Las Vegas. Simon Levien, a New York Times reporter, reported that a Nevada Biden campaign staffer interrupted his interviews twice when voters began criticizing Biden.
Levien quoted a voter who said, “You can’t tell me that there’s not anyone better,” only to be cut off by a staffer who said, “We’re at a Joe Biden event, so I’m going to cut you off there, sorry.”
Taylor R. Avery, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, shared a similar experience at the same event. Avery tweeted that a staffer twice attempted to halt her interview with a voter who suggested that Biden should step down.
The staffer then ushered Avery and the voter inside, citing the imminent arrival of Vice President Kamala Harris, who did not appear for another 30 minutes.
Further complications arose regarding press access to Biden's campaign events. Olivia Nuzzi, a Washington Correspondent for New York Magazine, initially faced restrictions on her access to a future Biden campaign event.
She tweeted about being told she would not be allowed to cover the president's fundraisers after previously being granted permission. However, Nuzzi later reported that her access was reinstated following discussions with the Biden campaign and the White House, who attributed the initial restriction to a communications error and denied it was related to Biden's debate performance.
Despite the criticisms and reports of staff interference, President Biden and his campaign have maintained a positive outlook.
Biden remarked on his debate performance, stating, “I think we did well,” while acknowledging that he may not debate as effectively as he once did. Biden campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler also denied any discussions about Biden ending his reelection bid, stating, “There are no conversations about that whatsoever.”
The debate and subsequent reports have fueled further speculation about Biden's viability as a candidate for the 2024 presidential race. Voters at the Las Vegas rally voiced their concerns, with one asking, "Who's running the country?" and another suggesting, “Let Kamala in!” indicating support for Vice President Harris as a potential nominee.
The events following President Biden's debate performance have highlighted growing tensions within his campaign and among voters.
Reports of campaign staffers attempting to control negative narratives have raised questions about the administration's handling of criticism.
As Biden and his campaign continue to express confidence, the incidents in Las Vegas and the fluctuating press access suggest an ongoing struggle to maintain a positive image amid increasing scrutiny. The implications for Biden's future in the 2024 presidential race remain uncertain, with the Democratic Party closely watching these developments.
