- President Joe Biden blames jet lag and travel for poor debate performance
- He acknowledged his extensive travel before the debate – including two separate trips to Europe within two weeks
- His remarks come amid calls for him to depart the race for the White House
- Biden emphasised the importance of winning re-election and apologised for his performance
- He will give a primetime interview to ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday
President Joe Biden blames jet lag and travel for poor debate performance
President Joe Biden said his lacklustre debate performance last week was due to jet lag, admitting he “wasn’t very smart” for travelling extensively before the event. He acknowledged nearly falling asleep on stage and not heeding his staff’s advice to rest.
Biden’s comments come amid concerns about his mental fitness within his party, following his debate with former President Donald Trump. Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett, the first Democratic lawmaker to call for Biden to step aside, expressed hopes that Biden would withdraw from the race, citing the debate as a pivotal moment.
Biden’s recent travels included two trips to Europe and a stay at Camp David to prepare for the debate.
White House officials have previously said he was battling a cold on the day of the debate but Biden did not mention any illness during his remarks. He emphasised the importance of winning re-election and apologised for his performance.
While some Democrats voiced concerns about Biden’s age and stamina, others, including Nancy Pelosi and Jim Clyburn, supported his candidacy. Biden remains the presumptive Democratic nominee and has vowed to stay in the race.
Biden will give a primetime interview to ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Friday, his first since the debate.
Joe Biden and Donald Trump debate – video
I’ve never been a fan of President Donald Trump – but he’s absolutely destroying Joe Biden in this debate… Trump is also being surprisingly generous here. This is an embarrassment to the DNC #Debates2024 pic.twitter.com/eJd76h7vjp
— Andy Signore (@andysignore) June 28, 2024