Hollywood liberals were gravely disappointed with President Joe Biden’s debate performance on Thursday.
Their social media reactions ranged from attacks on Trump, rage at CNN moderates, and some even suggested Biden’s showing was a nail in his political coffin.
Biden, allegedly under the weather, spoke with a rasp, seeming confused and at times completely unintelligible. Trump, brimming with his usual energy, ran laps around the president.
Celebrity Democrats panicked during and after the debate, fearing a massive defeat due to Biden’s disastrous showing.
What is wrong with these two moderators who let Trump change the subject? They ask him a question, but then let him go on a rampage about something else. Not fair!
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) June 28, 2024
CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash faced heavy criticism from the entertainers, accused of letting Trump lie unchallenged.
“What is wrong with these two moderators who let Trump change the subject?” Barbra Streisand complained during the live debate.
“They ask him a question, but then let him go on a rampage about something else. Not fair!”
Streisand had previously called debates “televised theatrics” and praised Biden as “accomplished at governing.”
Cusack had a similar take during his ferrous posting, which culminated in more than a dozen tweets.
“Trump is a convicted felon – making up whatever he wants. CNN has abdicated every definitional responsibility,” he whined.
“CNN letting this deranged liar lie with no consequences – meanwhile – dems thinks having the right data points matter – This is the end my beautiful friends,” Cusack added.
Former “Chicago PD” star Sophia Bush also blasted the network for the sin of letting Trump speak during his turn.
“None of us can believe the s‑‑‑ coming out of Trump’s mouth,” Bush remarked. “And I’d wager none of us can fathom why none of the moderators are fact-checking Trump’s stream of lies?”
Predictably, “Hocus Pocus” witch Bette Midler only had criticism for her long-time foe.
Well, #JoeBiden answered the questions, Trump never did. He feinted, he wove, he dodged, he lied. Biden, his voice weakened by a cold, answered the questions, softly, but still. I leaned in and heard him fine.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) June 28, 2024
“Fear and grievance, ad infinitum,” she commented about Trump. “Every word out of his mouth is a lie. Every single word.”
Midler claimed that Biden “answered the questions, Trump never did. He feinted, he wove, he dodged, he lied.”
She also defended the President for his soft, raspy voice. “Biden, his voice weakened by a cold, answered the questions, softly, but still. I leaned in and heard him fine,” she added.
CNN debate is a trump campaign rally only sponsored by @CNN
— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) June 28, 2024
“Animal Kingdom” star Ellen Barkin had a meltdown over a series of tweets while live-posting during the event.
“Well this is going well… First question is a Biden attack,” she began.
She freaked out about how moderators were “letting” Trump lie, and questioned “what the f**k is wrong” with the liberal network.
One off night doesn't change the fact that @JoeBiden is the most legislatively successful @POTUS in our lifetime. One off night also doesn't change the fact that the former guy is a convicted felon, serial liar & adjudicated rapist who is unfit for ANY office. Period.
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) June 28, 2024
Barkin said the debate was “a Trump campaign rally only sponsored by CNN,” as Biden continued to flounder.
Minutes later, the actress said she could not continue watching and posted, “I’ll be watching [Turner Classic Movies].”
Actor Mark Hamill, another Biden cheerleader, wrote that “one off night doesn’t change the fact” that Biden “is the most legislatively successful” president in our lifetime.
“One off night also doesn’t change the fact that the former guy is a convicted felon, serial liar & adjudicated rapist who is unfit for ANY office. Period,” Hamill added.
While comedian Jamie Kennedy was quick to add his wit to the conversation.
“Guy is running for his 2nd term, has no idea he is in his first,” Kennedy captioned a photo of Biden looking confused.
Guy is running for his 2nd term, has no idea he is in his first pic.twitter.com/kOE1EqXl8m
— Jamie Kennedy (@JamieKennedy) June 28, 2024
Kennedy, an independent, said he felt “bad” for Bide, adding “He ain’t there man. And anyone who is on his team and saying he is are and pushing him to run are complete liars and morally corrupted people.”
Michael Ian Black, of “Wet Hot American Summer” fame, echoed the sentiment.
“I don’t see how Biden survives this. If he stays in, he looks like the a‑‑hole,” he posted.
“Fair to say this was the worst debate performance of a sitting president in United States history?” Black questioned.
Former gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner, said Biden was a “total and complete failure and clearly in major mental decline.”
“Vote accordingly!” Jenner added.
Roseanne Barr was firmly team Trump, but felt bad that Biden could not string sentences together during the match-up.
“As MAGA and pro-America as I am … I take no happiness in this debate,” she tweeted.
As MAGA and pro America as I am…. I take no happiness in this debate. Biden is clearly not here. This is sad. Obama is sacrificing his friend to push his radical policies and I don't want any of us celebrating after this.
Yes Trump is clearly the better choice… but let’s take…
— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) June 28, 2024
“Biden is clearly not here. This is sad. Obama is sacrificing his friend to push his radical policies and I don’t want any of us celebrating after this,” Barr noted.
“Yes, Trump is clearly the better choice … but let’s take this moment to pray for our country instead.”
Fellow conservative actor James Woods also spoke up to torch Biden in a scathing post.
“There’s no way whoever is in charge of this presidency didn’t know this man was suffering from serious cognitive challenges,” he wrote.
“I loathe today’s Democrats, but when they can manage to make me feel sorry for Joseph Biden, they are more than loathsome. They are beyond reproach.”