While many political commentators have described the June 27 presidential debate as a disastrous night for current President Joe Biden, New York Democrats are either standing by their man or choosing to stay silent following his performance.
Many elected Democrats shifted the focus away from Biden’s age and mental fitness — a common talking point of concern for the current president after last week’s debate on CNN — to Republican challenger and former President Donald Trump. The latter, who was just convicted of 34 felony counts of business fraud in Manhattan while campaigning for the country’s highest office, made at least 30 false or misleading claims during the debate, according to CNN’s own fact checker Daniel Dale. That’s compared to at least nine from Biden.
In the CNN report, Dale said some of Trump’s lies during the debate were “egregious,” “pure fiction,” and “wild exaggeration[s].”
New York top Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul warned followers about Trump after the debate.
“Let’s be clear. Donald Trump is the greatest threat to the American people,” Hochul posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after the 90-minute event ended last week. “He is a convicted felon who wants to ban abortion nationwide. Those are the stakes this November.”
Bronx talking heads react
Some Bronx pols offered their two cents — some by simply re-posting commentary on their social media accounts.
Bronx state Sen. Gustavo Rivera re-posted a CNN analysis video of an analyst arguing talking points of “why Democrats must stand with Biden.”
Similarly, New York City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala — who represents parts of north Manhattan and the Bronx — re-posted commentary on social media that acknowledged shortfalls in Biden’s performance, but still emphasized the importance of voting for him in the General Election.
One of those posts was from former President Barack Obama, who said on X that “this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself.”
Others offered their insights directly.
Bronx Assembly Member Chantel Jackson made a GIF of her watching the debate, a disillusioned look on her face. She wrote on X: “Idk who won but I know who lost. It’s us, we the people.”
Assembly Member Kenny Burgos, a Soundview progressive who has posted satirical political content before, wrote “Fight back Joe!” over a GIF of a person yelling “C’MON MAN!”
In a more serious tone, Bronx Assembly colleague Landon Dais — who just won the Democratic nomination for the 77th District last week after his special election in February — said on social media that this vote is more about the entire administration of both parties.
“A Trump Administration combined with this current Supreme Court is a nightmare scenario,” he wrote. “America cannot afford another Trump Administration.”
Yudelka Tapia — who represents the Bronx’s 86th state Assembly District — took aim at who she said were “the worst moderators of a presidential debate ever,” criticizing the CNN journalists for not “call[ing] out” Trump for factual inaccuracies and evading questions.
Tapia has been outspoken against the former president — one of the Bronx elected officials to rally against him in Crotona Park on May 25. She and others spoke at the “Trump isn’t welcome in the Bronx” counter demonstration the same day the former president hosted his own campaign rally in the South Bronx.
Bronx Council Member Oswald Feliz chimed in briefly on social media as well, quoting a Biden post and telling his followers “You can say what you want. @JoeBiden is gonna beat Donald Trump AGAINNN.”
Bronx Time affiliate amNew York Metro called and emailed other top New York Democrats numerous times for comment on the debate, including U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, but did not hear back.
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, another Democrat, took a more direct approach in analyzing the debate, giving both Biden and Trump mixed reviews.
“Overall: Biden absolutely actually answered questions with real policy. Unfortunately, he said it with tremendous lethargy and, at times, not cohesive,” Williams posted on X. “Trump talked pure nonsense but said it with energy, verve and divisive red meat.”
The Bronx Times reached out to the Bronx Dems and the the Bronx GOP for comment but did hear back before this story was published.
Republicans criticize Biden
New York Republicans, however, have been eager to share their thoughts about the debate, giving accolades to Trump while criticizing Biden for his apparent lack of clear communication.
NYC Council Member Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) told amNewYork Metro that the “right choice” for November’s election was “clear” last night.
“What a sad state of affairs that the Democrats set up this clearly declining elderly man to fail not only in front of the entire nation, but on the world stage in front of our allies and enemies alike,” she said. “How anyone could watch this and come away thinking we’re strong and prosperous under this administration is beyond me.”
She also questioned Biden’s ability to run the country now and in the future.
“My question is, who has really been running the country for the past four years? I think the right choice in this election is very clear.”
U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) shared a similar testament.
“The 90-minute debate was terrible for Joe Biden, but the last 3.5 years have been a disaster for America,” she said. “Joe Biden and his administration have driven up inflation and interest rates, destroyed our energy supply and opened our borders to murderers, rapists and terrorists.”
Council Member Kristy Marmorato, the first Bronx Republican elected to the body in 40 years, was quiet on social media, however. The Bronx Times reached out to her office for comment and is awaiting response.
According to a CNN poll, viewers overwhelmingly said Trump was the star of the show last week. The numbers said that Trump had a better performance, 67% to 33%. The day after the debate, the New York Times’ Editorial Board published a piece calling for Biden to leave the race.
Despite Biden’s poor performance, he has no plans to leave the race. In fact, as reported in the New York Post, he plans to go up against Trump in a second debate later this year.
Biden himself acknowledged his age on social media after the debate, saying he’s aware he “might not walk as easily or talk as smoothly as I used to,” and even though he knows he’s “not a young man,” he still “know[s] how to do this job.”
The current president has doubled down on his commitment to the race, posting on social media that he still intends to win in November.
A previous version of this story was originally published by our affiliate amNewYork Metro.
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