CNN commentators did not think the first 2024 debate went well for President Joe Biden, with Van Jones saying the octogenarian's performance was "painful." The Democratic Party, Jones said, has time "to figure out a different way forward."

"I love that guy," Jones said. "But he had a test to meet tonight to restore confidence of the country and of the base, and he failed to do that."

"I think there's a lot of people who are going to want to see him consider taking a different course now," Jones continued. "We're still far from our convention, and there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward if he will allow us to do that. But that was ... personally painful for a lot of people."