Roy Rochlin/Getty Images, Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Days after sitting down for an interview with President Joe Biden, George Stephanopoulos has expressed doubts about the man's ability to serve another term.
TMZ obtained a video of the ABC host walking on a street in New York City, where a person asked him about Biden.
In the video, the person filmed Stephanopoulos walking toward him in workout clothes. They panned away from the host as they asked: "Do you think Biden should step down? You've talked to him more than anybody else has lately. You can be honest."
Stephanopoulos responded: "I don't think he can serve four more years."
#GeorgeStephanopoulos just made a STUNNING comment: he told someone on the streets of #NewYork that he doesn't think President #JoeBiden can serve another term! https://t.co/cFMK2Uxx4z pic.twitter.com/pxKkolFcGt
— TMZ (@TMZ) July 9, 2024
The anchor confirmed that he'd made that comment but told TMZ: "Earlier today, I responded to a question from a passerby. I shouldn't have."
An ABC News spokesperson told TMZ: "George expressed his own point of view and not ABC News' position."
During Stephanopoulos' ABC News interview on Friday with Biden, the president gave no indication that he plans to step aside after his disastrous June 27 presidential debate.
He told Stephanopoulos he was just having a "bad night" during the debate. He also repeatedly said in the interview that only the "Lord Almighty" could make him quit the race.
Stephanopoulos isn't the only political commentator who's recently interacted with Biden who's expressed doubts about his ability to run for another term.
CNN's Jake Tapper, who moderated the presidential debate, read a quote from Biden's appearance on Morning Joe" interview with MSNBC.
"That sound bite is supposed to be reassuring," Tapper said.
CNN’s @jaketapper reads an incoherent Biden quote from Morning Joe word-for-word: “That sound bite is supposed to be reassuring” pic.twitter.com/friVDsJis9
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) July 8, 2024
Top Democrats, donors, and former Biden loyalists have questioned his fitness to run.
But Biden has been defiant in the face of dissent, saying he will not step aside.
Anonymous sources told Politico that during a Zoom call with his staffers on July 3, he said: "Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can — as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running."
He reiterated this in a letter to House Democrats on Monday: "I wouldn't be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024."
"The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now," Biden wrote. "And it's time for it to end."
Representatives for Stephanopoulos and Biden didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.
