Colbert confronts Jean-Pierre on Biden’s mental acuity, Democratic betrayal

Late-night host Stephen Colbert brawled with former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday over former President Joe Biden’s mental acuity and accusations that the former president was betrayed.

“It was also very personal for those watching it, because it was a shock to our system to see that. Because — I mean, you’re talking to a guy who helped raise $25 million for Joe Biden in March of that year,” Colbert, a staunch supporter of Biden, told Jean-Pierre. “And three months later, because of the help I had given, I saw a man I had never seen backstage. He looked like a very different person. And I’m 81 years old, so that’s not unexpected. You can imagine why people were so worried.”

Jean-Pierre insisted that he sees Biden every day and argued that he can govern. The former press secretary expressed disappointment that the Democratic Party forced the former president to drop out of the race and wrote in his new book, “Independent,” that he “couldn’t stomach” being a part of it anymore.

“I’m not questioning his heart or his policies, but it takes more than that to be president of the United States,” Colbert said. “At a moment when we were under a lot of pressure on stage, we saw someone shock and worry us. And nothing could alleviate that anxiety. So when others say, ‘We don’t think the Joe Biden you saw was shown to us,’ I don’t think that’s a betrayal of Joe Biden.”

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE SAYS BIDEN HEALTH TALKING POINTS ARE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED AT A TOP LEVEL

Jean-Pierre said he disagreed that Biden’s June 2024 debate performance was disappointing.

Colbert backtracked, saying, “Disappointed is such an understatement.” “It was very sad. Okay, look, listen, we’re never going to see eye to eye on this, other than the fact that I’m glad you came here tonight.”

Colbert’s criticism was notable, considering the late-night host is an outspoken Biden supporter.

In an interview on “CBS Mornings” on Monday, Jean-Pierre argued that Biden is smart and can govern. CBS hosts Tony Dokoupil and Gayle King were also skeptical of Jean-Pierre’s claims during the interview.

COLBERT DID NOT ASK HARRIS ABOUT BIDEN’S FALL, WAS AVOIDING INTERVENTION IN TRUMP’S 60-MINUTE TRIAL

“I have to say, I thought you were going to say this, that you were going to do whatever you could to persuade Joe Biden to drop out of the race — because what we saw was what you saw and he was struggling and he couldn’t do it — I thought you were going to say that you were angry about that,” Dokoupil began. “What you’re saying in this book is that you’re angry at the people who are trying to push him out.”

“Some Americans say ‘seriously?'” Dokoupil said. “They will say,” he said.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on October 30, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Tierney Cross/AFP via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS ON MEDIA AND CULTURE

King said it was difficult to understand how Jean-Pierre did not witness any signs of decline, noting that he was on the plane with Biden en route to the June 2024 debate.

“I want to understand what Tony said because that’s what I thought,” King said. “People are wondering why he hasn’t spoken out about what members of his inner circle believe is the apparent decline of Joe Biden, and you said you were a member of the inner circle and you never saw that decline. After that, it’s ‘how?’ I wrote. “Karine, you even write that you were on the plane with him on the way to the debate and didn’t see anything.”

CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Jean-Pierre claimed that he did not see Biden together on their flight to Atlanta because his family was with him.