Abby Phillip calls ex-MSNBC host a 'nasty social media troll'
Former Obama official warns there's 'something wrong' with Biden's campaign
'Outnumbered' panelists debate the mental acuity of President Biden and former President Trump after voter analysis found it was a top issue.
Ex-MSNBC host Keith Olbermann and CNN host Abby Phillip had an unusually sharp exchange Wednesday after Phillip said "nobody" wants President Biden or former President Trump ahead of a likely 2024 rematch.
Phillip was bashed online by some pro-Biden commentators for her comments, and the far-left Olbermann was particularly incensed.
"CNN has to address the reality that [Phillip] has been an absolute disaster and that this foot-in-mouth editorial is the first thing she's gotten noticed for since her show debuted," Olbermann wrote.
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CNN's Abby Phillip said Tuesday that "nobody" wants President Biden or former President Trump ahead of a likely 2024 rematch. (CNN screenshot)
"As Nikki Haley put it — and I think it's actually such a smart way to put it — I think the first party to let go of their 80-year-old might be the victor, but who's going to be the one to move first?" Phillip said on CNN Tuesday. "I think that's where we are as a country and that's why this is kind of an intractable problem."
"Nobody wants Trump, nobody wants Biden, but nobody wants to be the first to walk away from either [candidate]," she added of the two parties.
Phillip shot back at Olbermann, who left MSNBC in 2011.
"Or, you can come to terms with the reality of your irrelevance and stop being a nasty social media troll," Phillip told Olbermann. "But that’s entirely up to you."
Another commentator, Joanne Carducci, torched Phillip for her comments.
"You’re a journalist — and you said that the reality is that ‘nobody’ wants Biden? Nobody? What’s your metric for defining 'nobody'? Because I know a great many people who do in fact want Biden," Carducci, who posts under the handle "@JoJoFromJerz," wrote.
"And if you’re going to throw polling at me I will counter with the fact that any percentage of people who favor Biden disputes your ridiculous claim. Why can’t you be held accountable for your words?" Carducci added.
CNN has to address the reality that @abbydphillip has been an absolute disaster and that this foot-in-mouth editorial is the first thing she's gotten noticed for since her show debuted https://t.co/V4WURd0Ua3
— Keith Olbermann⌚️ (@KeithOlbermann) January 24, 2024
CNN's Abby Phillip: "As Nikki Haley put it -- I think it's actually such a smart way to put it -- maybe the first party to let go of their 80 years old might be the victor, but who's gonna be the one to move first? ... nobody wants Trump, nobody wants Biden." pic.twitter.com/B7xdPBfkQX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 24, 2024
You’re a journalist — and you said that the reality is that “nobody” wants Biden?
— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) January 24, 2024
Nobody? What’s your metric for defining “nobody”? Because I know a great many people who do in fact want Biden.
And if you’re going to throw polling at me I will counter with the fact that any…
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According to a new ABC News/Ipso poll conducted Jan. 4-8, 69% of respondents do not think Biden has the mental sharpness to be president – up from just 43% in May 2020.
Trump, who is 77 years old, has spoken directly about his age.
(According to a new ABC News/Ipso poll conducted Jan. 4-8, 69% of respondents do not think Biden has the mental sharpness to be president – up from just 43% in May 2020. )
"I don't mind being 80, but I'm 77. That's a big difference," Trump said at a campaign rally in New Hampshire on Saturday.
"It's not age. Different people, different strokes," Trump added. "I feel my mind is stronger now than it was 25 years ago. Is that possible? I really do. Now, Biden can't say that."
Fox News' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
Jeffrey Clark is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. He has previously served as a speechwriter for a cabinet secretary and as a Fulbright teacher in South Korea. Jeffrey graduated from the University of Iowa in 2019 with a degree in English and History.
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