Biden calls 2024 Atlanta debate performance 'not very consequential'

Former President Joe Biden described his June 2024 presidential debate performance against President Trump as "not very consequential" in a recent interview with People magazine, according to wtkg.iheart.com. The debate took place on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia, where Biden stumbled over his words and paused frequently during the event.

Following the debate, Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race just 24 days later and endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris, as reported by wtkg.iheart.com. Biden told ABC News he had been "feeling terrible" on the day of the debate, according to The Hill.

Biden also revealed in the People interview that he would not have sought reelection had he known about his prostate cancer diagnosis, which he is currently battling, wtkg.iheart.com reported. His former wife, Jill Biden, reflected on the debate night in a CBS News interview, expressing concern for his health at the time.

Despite the criticism and his withdrawal from the race, Biden maintains he was the best-equipped person for the job, according to wtkg.iheart.com. The interview was released ahead of the publication of his presidential memoir, Promise Me, America, scheduled for release on November 17, 2026.