ABC News host George Stephanopoulos may have ruffled feathers when he was caught on camera telling a person on the street that President Biden might not be up for a second term in the White House, but the 63-year-old newsman appears to be in good standing with the network for now.
Gossip site Radar Online claimed on Wednesday that ABC executives were “furious” over his impromptu comment and were considering benching the celebrated “This Week” host if he didn’t issue an apology.
But in a statement to the New York Daily News on Thursday, a network spokesperson said the report “is absolutely not true.”
Stephanopolous was the first network anchor to interview Joe Biden after the president’s disastrous performance at a June 27 debate with Donald Trump, which prompted supporters and critics alike to question the 81-year-old leader’s mental competence.
Four days after that Friday interview, TMZ shared video of Stephanopoulos being asked about the president on a New York City street.
“I don’t think he can serve four more years,” he answered dismissively while moving along.
In a statement from his rep to the News, Stephanopoulos said, “I responded to a question from a passerby. I shouldn’t have.”
A company spokesperson said Stephanopoulos had “expressed his own point of view and not the position of ABC News.”
Several high-profile Democratic fundraisers, including actor George Clooney, have publicly called for the president to ride into the sunset and let another Democrat challenge Trump.
The president, who still enjoys support from many Democrats, insists he’s staying in the race.
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