Robby Soave said that the media are “no longer trying to deny” President Biden’s perceived cognitive decline following his widely criticized performance against Donald Trump in Thursday’s CNN presidential debate and that “the media played a huge role in this cover-up of Biden’s mental state.” He also said that it is “unlikely” that Biden will be replaced by another Democrat “unless [he] consents to it. He has to agree.”

Leslie Marshall said it “just kills her” that the media want Biden to quit following a devastating showing in the first 2024 general election debate and that the “New York Times doesn’t decide that. The voters decide.” She also said that “if Biden were so guaranteed to lose,” Republicans would want to “keep him on the ticket.”

Trump Campaign Senior Adviser Jason Miller said regarding speculation that the president could be replaced before the election, “Biden is definitely going to be the Democrat nominee … Biden doesn’t want his reputation, his legacy, to be tarnished as a quitter.” He also said that it is absurd that White House reporters “can’t just see that Joe Biden is unable to function normally.”

Former Top Spokesman for First Lady Jill Biden Michael LaRosa said about the White House “bubble wrapping” the president over the past year, “You can’t run for president by ducking for cover … by not engaging with the media.” He also said that it is “unfair” to suggest the First Lady should counsel her husband on whether he should step aside as the Democratic candidate for president.

Philippe Reines said that in Thursday’s televised presidential debate, he saw “a good president who had an absolutely terrible debate” versus “a terrible ex-president with terrible answers, basically telling us that he’s going to do terrible things to America.” He also said that a considerable surge in calls from liberal media supporters of the president for him to step down “is a great opportunity to say not all media [are] constantly giving Joe Biden a pass.”