President Biden had planned to use his first televised interview since his poor debate performance to reassure supporters and create a voice in the Democratic Party calling for him to quit.
But many Democrats who spoke after the interview, which aired on ABC News on Friday night, signaled that they would do nothing to change their stance, regardless of whether Mr. Biden should stay in the race or drop out.
Several current and former Democratic officials who have called on Mr. Biden to end his re-election campaign say the interview did little, or nothing, to address their concerns. A trusted supporter of the president’s election campaign also took to the television network, reiterating that he stands by Mr. Biden.
Other Democrats who have been concerned about the president’s performance, but stopped short of calling for Mr. Biden to resign, said the interview did not change their views on the candidacy.
The president’s critics among Democrats, including those who have called for him to step down, say Mr. Biden appears out of touch or in denial about his re-election prospects.
Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat who became the first House Democrat to ask President Biden to drop out of the race, said in an interview on CNN shortly after the ABC broadcast that “the need for him to step down is more important tonight than when I first called on Tuesday.” He added that Mr. Biden “doesn’t want his legacy to be that he turned our country into a tyrant.”
Representative Mike Quigley, Democrat of Illinois, also said that Mr. Biden should step down, telling CNN that he found the points in the interview “disturbing” and that it was clear that “the president of the United States does not have the power necessary to deal with the deficit here.”
“He felt that he had done his best, that’s all that mattered,” Mr. Quigley said, recounting Mr. Biden’s description of how he felt after losing to former President Donald J. Trump. “With the greatest respect: No.”
Several Democratic lawmakers who have consistently supported Mr. Biden said after the interview they would stick with the president. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, Biden’s campaign chairman, and Representative Robert Garcia of California said they were ready to help the president win re-election in November.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who has repeatedly sought to rally Democrats behind the president with numerous posts on social media, said, “Democrats need to get a backbone or grow a set – one or the other,” adding, “Joe Biden is the man our boy.”
Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, an ally of Mr. Biden, said on social media on Friday night that “Joe Biden is what our country needs.”
And Representative Nanette Barragán, Democrat of California and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who supports Mr. Biden, told CNN earlier Friday that Democrats “shouldn’t talk” about replacing him. In the evening, Ms. Barragán continued to defend Mr. Biden.
“It seems like everyone’s looking for concern – I don’t see it,” he said. “He is quick to respond. He is on point. He understands the questions and topics clearly and gives answers. It was a difficult interview, and I think he handled it well.
Representative Ro Khanna, Democrat of California and Biden’s surrogate, said in a statement that he expected more from Mr. Biden to gain the trust of voters – and “that will require more than one interview.”
“I expect full transparency from the White House on this issue,” Mr. Khanna said, “and a willingness to answer legitimate questions from the media and voters about his capabilities.”
Julián Castro, the former Democratic presidential candidate who called on Mr. Biden to resign, criticized the president after the interview, telling MSNBC that Mr. Biden had been “solid” in the interview but “denied about the decline of people. can see clearly.”
Former Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio, who also said Mr. Biden should step aside, said after the interview, “I don’t think he’s moved the needle.”
“I don’t think he energizes anybody,” Mr. Ryan said on MSNBC. “I think his level doesn’t match the reality on the field.”
“I’m worried,” he continued, with a nervous laugh. “I’m worried, like, I think a lot of people are, that he’s not the guy who can do this for us.”
Mark Buell, a prominent donor to Mr. Biden and the Democratic Party who has questioned the president’s performance in the debate, said in a text message that “Biden is on a slide that he is trying to curb. If he doesn’t succeed, he could be a verb.
Maya C. Miller, Robert Jimison and Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed reports from Washington. Simon J. Levien contributed reports from Massachusetts.