How to watch Biden’s ABC interview Friday with George Stephanopoulos that could decide political future
President Biden is on Friday sitting for the most important interview of his political life.
The 81-year-old commander in chief will sit down with George Stephanopoulos — a former mouthpiece for Democratic president Bill Clinton — to try to convince the world he remains fit for the most important job in the world after his alarming performance at the debate with GOP rival Donald Trump.
The calls for him to step down are so thunderous the interview is being rushed forward from an initial air date of Sunday to Friday night, just hours after it is to be recorded following a rally in the battleground state of Wisconsin.
Here is everything you need to know about the broadcast, which even Biden himself appears to know will be a watershed moment in deciding if he can continue his campaign.
How to watch the interview
Biden’s interview will air in full across ABC News platforms at 8 p.m. Friday, when the president is reportedly off the clock.
Before that, however, there will be a first look with segments airing on “World News Tonight with David Muir” at 6:30 p.m. ABC News said it would also release a full transcript of the unedited interview on Friday.
It is scheduled to run again Sunday on Stephanopoulos’ show “This Week,” when it was initially due to first air.
Why was the debate moved from Sunday to Friday?
ABC News moved up the release of the interview from Sunday to Friday because of the intense scrutiny on Biden’s mental and physical fitness and calls for him to resign after last week’s debate.
Despite blaming that performance on being overworked, Biden has stepped up his public appearance — merely adding to his history of gaffes — in a potentially last-ditched attempt to persuade the world he is up to the job.
Who is George Stephanopoulos?
Stephanopoulos is now known as the anchor of ABC News’ “Good Morning America” and “This Week.”
Before that, however, he was a crucial mouthpiece for Clinton, as his deputy manager and political advisor during the Democrat’s 1992 campaign and presidency, which some critics — including Trump — feel will make him too friendly to the Democrat’s cause.
“The meanest and most vicious Interviewer out there is George Slopadopoulos of FAKE NEWS ABC, one of the worst and most vile Broadcasters in the business,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday.
“Now ABC, and Liddle’ George, a tiny, angry man, can make up for their past indiscretions and journalistic failures by doing a real interview with Crooked Joe, not a cut up promotion with only his few coherent answers released to the public.”
What questions should Stephanopoulos ask Biden?
Stephanopoulos is expected to ask Biden about his debate performance last week and his physical and mental acuity.
The president and his aides attributed debate performance to him having a cold and jet lag from two trips earlier this month — despite Biden’s week long preparation for the face-off at Camp David.
Stephanopoulos may also ask Biden about calls for Vice President Kamala Harris to take over his spot as the 2024 Presidential Democratic candidate.
More than any of the questions, however, will be Biden’s performance — with his other recent appearances and interviewers merely adding to concerns over his outlandish gaffes and often incoherent trains of thought.
What to watch for in the interview
This will be the first time Biden has spoken at length since his stumbling debate performance so his ability to answer Stephanopoulos’s questions clearly and concisely will make or break his campaign strategy.
Biden himself told campaign staff on Wednesday that he may have to drop out of the race if he can’t get back on track in the coming days.
Will the interview be edited?
Likely, given that it is not being aired live, yet unclear just how much until it is aired. Certainly, the rushed air time gives less time to edit, and ABC News has vowed to release an unedited transcript — but one that may not show any hiccups in his performance.