MSNBC host Chris Jansing questioned Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about President Joe Biden's ability to serve a second term after his brutal debate defeat.
Democrats and the liberal media were not shy about criticizing Biden for his raspy voice and stumbling during Thursday night's debate with former President Donald Trump. Buttigieg argued that despite Biden's record, the 81-year-old president is capable of governing the United States for another four years.
“Look at the results this president has delivered. Look at the incredible productivity. At the end of the day, it's the results that matter most. And, well, look,” Buttigieg said on his show Friday.
“But their real question, excuse me, is whether he can continue that for another four years after what we saw yesterday confirmed in many ways the concerns about his age,” Jansing interjected.
MSNBC's Chris Jansing asked Pete Buttigieg after the disastrous debate whether he trusted Biden. pic.twitter.com/fY7zk0fV1k
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 28, 2024
“Yeah, so I know what it's like to wake up in the morning and look at the videos and the comments, and sometimes they're great, sometimes they're terrible, and still hang on and keep doing what you're trying to do,” Buttigieg said. “I've been on the debate stage about 10 times, most or all of them with Joe Biden and a few other Democrats on stage. I was there when he beat every other Democrat for the Democratic nomination, and I was there when he beat Donald Trump to become president of the United States. And frankly, neither of those victories were the result of what kind of debater he is. He debated and he made his case well, but there's a lot else that shows up about who he cares about and who he is as a person.”
Jansing asked Buttigieg whether he would support efforts to replace Biden with another candidate.
“No, that's easy,” the secretary replied. (Related: 'It's the worst': Ex-President Obama aides in complete panic after Biden 'disastrous' debate)
“After the debate, do you still believe Joe Biden is the best person to beat Donald Trump?” Jansing asked.
“Joe Biden is our candidate and our president because he is the best person to move this country forward. You're right, every election is about the future,” he said.
“Did anything you saw last night upset you?” she asked.
“The debate was not how I would have liked it to be, and I understand looking back on a night or a day or a moment or an event or an interview during a campaign and wishing you had done this or that,” Buttigieg said. “But this isn't about a single moment in a campaign, this is about the American people, at a deeper level, not just about a candidate. As you say, this is about the future.”
“But this isn't about these two people's futures. It's about the future of the American people, and that future will be best served by building on the record that Joe Biden has shown as one of the most extraordinarily effective presidents in my lifetime, measured by every tangible measure you can think of, from legislation to job creation. That's all,” he continued.
Frequent defenders of Biden, such as MSNBC's Joy Reid and CNN's Van Jones, expressed deep disappointment and concern about Biden's ability to win voters' trust and defeat Trump. Jones urged Democrats to consider replacing Biden in the wake of Biden's performance. MSNBC's Claire McCaskill said voters believe the Democratic Party is facing a “crisis.”
Two Biden aides told NBC News the president had a cold during the debate but did not mention it beforehand, Politico reported.
