The Biden-Stephanopoulos Interview: A Turning Point

On February 9, 2020, facing dwindling poll numbers and Democratic skepticism, Joseph R. Biden Jr. turned to George Stephanopoulos of ABC News for a crucial TV interview, aiming to breathe life into a seemingly faltering presidential campaign. Despite finishing fifth in the New Hampshire primary shortly after, Biden mounted an extraordinary comeback, clinching victory in South Carolina and ultimately securing the presidency.

Fast forward four and a half years later, amid growing calls for his withdrawal from the presidential race, Biden and his team are once again placing their bets on an anchor who has been there to interview him during some of his most challenging political moments.

Set to be recorded on Friday afternoon in Madison, Wis., and broadcast at 8 p.m. Eastern, Mr. Stephanopoulos’s upcoming interview with Mr. Biden is being seen as a critical opportunity for the president to address concerns about his cognitive and physical well-being following a tumultuous performance in the recent debate against former President Donald J. Trump.

Expected to run for approximately 15 to 25 minutes, the interview negotiations have been kept under wraps, with sources revealing details on the condition of anonymity. While the exact duration is subject to the flow of the conversation, both parties have the flexibility to adjust the length based on the discussion’s dynamics.

ABC has committed to airing the interview in its entirety, without any edits, ensuring that any attempt to prematurely end the conversation will be captured on camera and potentially shown to viewers. The special, titled “One on One with President Biden,” has been preliminarily scheduled for a 30-minute slot, but could be extended based on the unfolding dialogue.