A private assessment of President Joe Biden's post-debate interview by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos comes to light in a newly released book.

According to Fox News, Stephanopoulos described Biden as "heartbreaking up close" during a crucial interview following the president's June 27 debate performance against Donald Trump, as detailed in Chris Whipple's book "Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History."

The interview, which took place on July 5, was arranged by the White House in an attempt to quell growing concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden's fitness for office. During the appearance, Biden appeared hoarse and struggled to maintain coherence, leading to increased speculation about his ability to continue in the presidential race.

Behind the scenes of critical ABC interview

The White House strategically chose Stephanopoulos for the post-debate interview, hoping to reassure the public about Biden's candidacy. The interview came at a crucial time when Democratic Party members were openly discussing the possibility of replacing Biden on the ticket.

During the interview, Stephanopoulos approached his questioning with notable gentleness, treating the president with the care one might show to a grandson, according to Whipple's account. The ABC News anchor's private response to the author's email inquiry about his impressions of the interview was particularly revealing.

White House officials had hoped the interview would help "staunch the bleeding" caused by Democrats publicly calling for Biden's replacement. However, the president's performance during the conversation did little to alleviate concerns about his fitness for office.

Public reaction leads to campaign ending

Just days after the interview, Stephanopoulos was captured on video expressing doubts about Biden's ability to serve another term. When approached by a person on the street regarding Biden's fitness for office, the ABC News anchor stated he didn't believe Biden could serve four more years.

ABC News quickly responded to the controversy, clarifying that Stephanopoulos's statement reflected his personal opinion rather than the network's position. The incident added to the growing narrative about Biden's declining capabilities.

The interview itself produced several concerning moments, including Biden's use of the phrase "goodest job" and his uncertainty about whether he had watched his own debate performance. These moments contributed to the mounting pressure on Biden's campaign.

Moving forward after presidential withdrawal

The aftermath of the interview and subsequent public discourse had significant consequences for the Democratic Party's political landscape. Biden's campaign struggled to maintain momentum in the face of growing concerns about his cognitive abilities.

The combination of the debate performance, the Stephanopoulos interview, and the increasing public scrutiny ultimately led to Biden's decision to withdraw from the presidential race. On July 21, less than three weeks after the ABC interview, Biden officially ended his campaign.

The quick succession of events, from the debate to the interview to the campaign's conclusion, marked a dramatic shift in American political history. The revelations in Whipple's book provide new insight into the behind-the-scenes dynamics that led to this significant change.

Final moments of Biden's campaign journey

George Stephanopoulos's private assessment of Biden's condition during the July 5 interview revealed the extent of concern among media professionals about the president's fitness for office. The ABC News anchor's characterization of the interview as "heartbreaking up close" reflected broader worries within the Democratic Party about Biden's ability to continue serving as president. These events culminated in Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, a decision that came after mounting pressure from party members and increasing public scrutiny of his cognitive abilities. The interview with Stephanopoulos proved to be a pivotal moment in the sequence of events that led to Biden's departure from the campaign trail.