Former US President Barack Obama has expressed strong support for President Joe Biden despite a widely criticised performance in the 2024 US presidential debate on Thursday.

Biden faced significant criticism after a widely perceived poor debate showing against former President Donald Trump.

Despite this, Obama swiftly came to Biden’s defense, emphasizing that a single debate does not define the entirety of an election campaign.

In his response on Thursday, Obama acknowledged that “bad debate nights happen” and reiterated his unwavering belief in Biden’s lifelong dedication to the American people.

“This election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself,” Obama stated.

He elaborated, “Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November.”

Meanwhile. a defiant US President Joe Biden made clear Friday that he has every intention of staying in the White House race, despite a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump which triggered panic among Democrats.

“I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to, I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know — I know how to tell the truth,” Biden told a rally packed with roaring supporters in North Carolina.

He added: “I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up.”

Vanguard News