Celebrities slammed Donald Trump, the debate moderators and the current state of American politics, but none of them claimed Joe Biden had won.
The president and his predecessor faced off on topics ranging from the economy to immigration to foreign affairs in the first of two debates in Atlanta on Thursday night.
Biden, who had been nursing a cold, began the debate hoarse, confused and at times incoherent, but improved as the debate progressed.
Trump, meanwhile, attacked Biden onstage with his usual energy, making at least 30 false statements during the 90-minute debate.
Biden's lackluster performance both during and after the debate sent Democrats into panic, fearing a major defeat.
As the debate continued, celebrities including Barbra Streisand, John Cusack, Mark Hamill and Stephen King took to the internet to vent their frustrations.
Among the biggest targets were CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who multiple celebrities have claimed are condoning President Trump's lies.
“What on earth did these two moderators do to get Trump to change the topic? Then they ask him a question and then they let him rant about something else. Not fair!” Streisand wrote mid-debate.
The singer called the debate “televised theatre, not governance” that same day and said Biden was “masterful at governing.”
Cusack posted more than 10 tweets during the debate, some of which made the same claims as Streisand.
“Trump is a convicted felon and is free to make up whatever he wants. CNN has by definition abdicated all responsibility,” he wrote.
“CNN refuses to hold this crazy liar accountable while Democrats think it's important to have the right data points. This is over, my beautiful friends.”
Jeri Ryan, best known for playing Seven of Nine in Star Trek, also joined in calling for CNN hosts to be more critical of Trump.
“Trump actually didn't answer any questions! The hosts didn't even offer a rebuttal,” she wrote.
Former “Grey's Anatomy” star Jesse Williams had similar thoughts: “If you're not going to moderate, why moderate? Not a single lie is being checked.”
Ryan also criticized Trump's false claim that some states allow doctors to abort babies “after birth,” without explaining how that actually works.
“'After birth'? Utterly stupid. Abortion after birth is not possible,” she wrote.
She later added: “My goodness, he lies as easily as he breathes.”
Best-selling author Stephen King condemned the state of American democracy that the debate revealed.
“Ugh! TV networks are treating this as entertainment, like a boxing match, and showing disrespect for democracy. Shame on them,” he wrote.
Actress Nia Long simply said, “This controversy is deplorable.”
Cusack acknowledged that the date was a disaster for Biden and likely signaled the end of Democrats' hopes of retaining the White House.
“Meltdown – CNN created the perfect conditions,” he wrote.
“A perfect storm of corruption from CNN, a Biden campaign making everything look bad, and over-preparing for Biden to win on data points.”
He argued that socialist Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders would win in a landslide victory and be succeeded by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Williams also shared a meme of a man confidently walking into a television studio, suggesting Newsom would be Biden's successor.
“Gavin Newsom will be walking into the DNC offices tomorrow morning,” he wrote.
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill didn't say Biden won the debate, but he argued that he would have been a much better president, even if he had a bad night.
The fact that Joe Biden has been the most successful legislatively is not something that happens overnight. [president] “In our lifetimes,” he wrote.
“A night's rest does not change the fact that my ex-boyfriend is a convicted felon, a habitual liar and a rapist who is unfit for any office. Period.”
