While former President Barack Obama has publicly supported his once right-hand man, President Joe Biden, in the fallout of Biden’s poor debate performance, he has privately expressed concerns about the Democratic ticket. 

Obama privately told Democratic allies that Biden’s reelection chances are getting more worrisome following the debate, according to a report from the Washington Post. 

“President Biden is grateful for President Obama’s unwavering support since the very start of this campaign as both a powerful messenger to voters and a trusted adviser directly to the president,” said Lauren Hitt, a spokeswoman for the Biden campaign.

Obama and Biden spoke on the phone following Thursday’s debate, although it is unclear how Obama addressed his fears about Biden’s reelection.

Some of the former president’s recommendations have resonated with Biden. Obama advised him to beef up senior leadership in his campaign headquarters. A month later, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon and Mike Donilon were gone from their roles in the White House and sent up to the Biden campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.

Last month, Obama outlined former President Donald Trump’s political strengths with Biden as the two head toward a rematch in November. During the lunch, Obama explained how Trump’s unwavering support from his base and the polarized nature of the country benefit Trump. He also pledged to give Biden unconditional support in his campaign.

The day after the debate, as Democrats nationwide were and remain in peril about the next steps with Biden as their nominee, Obama voiced his support publicly. Obama touched on his own poor debate performance in 2012 when he ran for reelection as a sign Biden could bounce back from the night. 

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“Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself,” Obama said on X.

This year, Obama has headlined two high-profile fundraisers: one in Los Angeles alongside stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts, in which the Biden campaign raised $30 million, and another in New York City alongside former President Bill Clinton, in which the trio raised more than $26 million.