President Joe Biden‘s family is reportedly upset about his physical appearance during last week’s debate against former President Donald Trump, according to sources close to the situation.
The CNN hosted presidential debate, which took place in Atlanta, Georgia on June 26, has been widely criticized as a poor performance for the incumbent president, leading to increased anxiety among Democrats about his ability to secure re-election in November.
Sources familiar with the matter say some relatives have expressed frustration with Biden’s debate preparation team, particularly focusing on his makeup for the event. The president, who arrived in Georgia with a summer tan, was reportedly made up to look “pale and pallid,” a decision that has drawn scrutiny from his family and close circle.
The makeup controversy is just one aspect of a larger discussion taking place within the Biden camp as they grapple with the fallout from the debate.
While the president himself is said to remain confident in his team, including senior adviser Anita Dunn and personal attorney Bob Bauer, some family members are questioning the strategy employed in preparing Biden for the face-off with Trump.
The debate has reignited discussions about Biden’s age and mental acuity for office, a topic that has dogged his presidency and re-election campaign. At 81 years old, Biden is already the oldest sitting president in U.S. history, and concerns about his cognitive abilities have been amplified following the debate.
Newsweek reached out to Biden’s campaign on Sunday via email for comment.
A recent CBS News/YouGov poll conducted from June 28 to 29 found a significant drop in support for Biden’s re-election bid among Democrats. Only 54% of registered Democratic voters now think Biden should be running for president again, down from 64% in February. More alarmingly, 95% of Democrats cited Biden’s age as a reason he should not run for re-election.
The poll also revealed a sharp decline in Democrats’ perception of Biden’s mental acuity. In February, 57% of Democrats thought only Biden had the mental and cognitive health to serve another term. By June, that number had dropped to 43%. Meanwhile, the percentage of Democrats who believe neither Biden nor Trump has the mental sharpness for the job rose from 26% to 39%.
Despite these concerning poll numbers, Biden and his core team remain committed to staying in the race. Ron Klain, speaking on the president’s behalf, stated unequivocally that Biden would not drop out, reiterating the strong support he continues to receive from Democratic voters and grassroots donors.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat and Biden ally, defended the president on CNN‘s State of the Union, calling the debate “a bad night” but emphasizing that “It’s not about performance, in terms of a debate, it’s about performance in a presidency.”
Pelosi also highlighted the challenge Biden faced in countering Trump’s statements during the debate. CNN reported that Trump made over 30 false statements during the event, while Biden made at least nine false or misleading statements.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.