President Joe Biden's dismal debate performance left his own aides so dejected that they muted post-debate commentary and left Waffle House orders uneaten.
That's according to Bloomberg, whose reporters said they spoke to aides, lawmakers, displeased donors, and voters in the hours following Biden's disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump.
Horrified staffers watched as Biden fumbled through the early goings of the debate, adding ammunition to mounting attacks on his cognition and perceived frailty. The weak opening sequence led some aides to pre-emptively warn reporters he had a "cold."
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Following the debate, Bloomberg described the mood as "glum" — and the "gallows humor was rampant."
Aides on Air Force One, the president's plane, reportedly muted cabin TVs to avoid post-debate commentary. Flight attendants offered a local brew: "Emergency Drinking Beer." Orders from an Atlanta favorite — Waffle House — were left untouched.
Multiple officials told Bloomberg that Biden himself — who boasted "we're going to beat this guy" at a raucous after-party — seethed after the debacle, which TV news anchor and broadcast journalist Chris Wallace compared to a "car accident in slow motion."
According to what Bloomberg described as "allies outside his tent," Biden's campaign may have inadvertently shot itself in the foot by setting debate rules that conflict with his inherent style — he thrives on an audience, just like Trump. And with the opposing candidate's microphone cut off, Trump came off as "more subdued" — because he couldn't interrupt Biden as he did in 2020, giving Biden the advantage in the minds of voters.
