(Rightallegiance.com) – Former NBC anchor Chuck Todd stunned political circles this week by claiming that President Biden’s own team deliberately set him up to fail during last year’s presidential debate. Speaking candidly on his podcast, Todd said he believes the debate was intentionally scheduled to showcase Biden at his weakest, suggesting that top Democratic strategists were laying the groundwork to replace him as the party’s nominee. The timing, preparation, and conditions surrounding the debate, he argued, were orchestrated to push Biden toward a public stumble that could justify withdrawing him from the race.
Biden’s debate performance became a political flashpoint, drawing criticism from both allies and opponents. His delivery was slow, occasionally confused, and widely seen as lacking the vigor needed to counter his Republican challenger. In the days that followed, pressure mounted within the Democratic Party, and growing whispers of concern about Biden’s age and mental acuity reached a crescendo. Eventually, Biden stepped aside, paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place on the ticket. Todd’s theory now casts those events in a new light, suggesting what looked like an unfortunate debate misstep may have been part of a deeper, deliberate strategy.
The accusation has stirred sharp reactions across the political spectrum. While some commentators view it as a plausible theory given the high-stakes nature of presidential politics, others dismiss it as unfounded and conspiratorial. Democrats close to the campaign are likely to reject the claim outright, emphasizing that any faltering debate performance reflected natural pressure, not manipulation. Still, Todd’s long career as a political journalist lends weight to the narrative, and his blunt comments have reignited questions about who truly holds the reins of power within modern political campaigns. Whether or not the allegation proves accurate, it exposes the internal rifts and strategic coldness that can lurk beneath the surface of even the most unified-seeming campaigns.