'I don't think I did, no,' he told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos
President Biden was roasted on social media after expressing uncertainty over whether he had watched his performance at last week's presidential debate during his ABC News interview.
In a preview clip that aired on Friday's "World News Tonight," ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos pressed Biden on if he had comprehended how poorly he did in his face-off against former President Trump.
"Did you ever watch the debate afterwards?" Stephanopoulos asked.
After a brief pause, Biden replied, "I don't think I did, no."
BIDEN TAKES BLAME FOR ‘BAD NIGHT’ IN DEBATE AGAINST TRUMP: ‘MY FAULT, NO ONE ELSE’S FAULT'
President Biden raised eyebrows when he expressed uncertainty whether he had watched his debate performance in an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos. (Screenshot/ABC)
That exchange quickly went viral.
"Biden looks terrible and sounds terrible in the clip @ABC showed at 630… Oof. He doesn’t even remember if he watched the debate later. My god," CNN contributor Scott Jennings reacted.
Biden looks terrible and sounds terrible in the clip @ABC showed at 630. Anxious to see the rest of it at 8 tonight. Oof. He doesn’t even remember if he watched the debate later. My god.
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) July 5, 2024
"Biden still looked bad and sounded confused in the excerpt ABC aired. Maybe not quite as bad as 8 days ago, but definitely nothing there that says ‘I got this,’" journalist Josh Barro wrote.
Biden still looked bad and sounded confused in the excerpt ABC aired. Maybe not quite as bad as 8 days ago, but definitely nothing there that says “I got this” https://t.co/lOwcIdlerA
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) July 5, 2024
"The debate was a week ago and he can't remember if he watched a replay," New York Post columnist Miranda Devine posted.
The debate was a week ago and he can't remember if he watched a replay 🙄 https://t.co/pkSgz4XYXl
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) July 5, 2024
"If Biden hasn't seen the debate himself, how can he know exactly what other Dems and voters are seeing?" CBS News reporter Kathryn Watson wondered.
If Biden hasn't seen the debate himself, how can he know exactly what other Dems and voters are seeing? https://t.co/QuarILgMvI
— Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) July 5, 2024
ABC'S GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS LANDS CRUCIAL INTERVIEW, PUTTING SPOTLIGHT ON HIS PARTISAN PAST
"It was pretty memorable for those who watched," FOX 11 LA anchor Elex Michaelson said.
It was pretty memorable for those who watched. https://t.co/aa3StZ6uwW
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) July 5, 2024
"Oh boy," progressive personality Emma Vigeland reacted.
Oh boy. https://t.co/LlQUZULbvO
— Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) July 5, 2024
"He doesn't know???" Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen exclaimed.
He doesn’t know??? https://t.co/QFXqa6a1us
— Marc Thiessen 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇦🇹🇼🇮🇱 (@marcthiessen) July 5, 2024
Biden maintained that his disastrous debate performance last month against Trump was nothing more than a "bad episode" or a "bad night" rather than a sign of something more serious and suggested he was to blame for it.
"It was a bad episode," Biden said to Stephanopoulos. "No indication of a serious condition. I was exhausted. I didn't listen to my instincts in terms of preparing. It was a bad night."
BIDEN DONORS ‘FREAKED OUT’ BY HIS RELIANCE ON TELEPROMPTERS AT PRIVATE FUNDRAISERS
A report from "The Atlantic" declared that President Biden "must resign" from office following his debate performance last week. (Getty Images)
Biden's shocking debate performance has become a political earthquake with wide swaths of the liberal media calling for him to withdraw from the presidential race.
Both Biden and the White House have repeatedly insisted he is staying in the contest. The White House also denied reports Wednesday that Biden told a key ally he was considering stepping aside.
Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Joseph A. Wulfsohn is a media reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to