US President Joe Biden admitted on Tuesday that he “almost fell asleep” in the debate against former President Donald Trump (2017-2021) and attributed the fatigue to the trips he had made just days earlier to Italy for the G7 summit and to France for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
“I decided to fly around the world a couple of times just before the debate, I didn’t listen to my team and then I almost fell asleep on stage,” he said during a fundraising event in McLean, Virginia, just outside Washington. “It’s not an excuse, but an explanation,” he added.
Biden has been heavily criticized for his debate performance, in which he projected an aged image, with a hoarse voice and difficulty finishing some of his sentences, increasing doubts among voters and members of the Democratic Party about his ability to continue governing and face Trump in the November elections.
The president had a brief appearance at the event that lasted about six minutes, during which he also expressed that although he regretted his performance in the debate, it was “crucial” to winning the election.
He was then escorted out of the venue by his team. The president usually gives longer speeches at these types of events where he meets with donors to his party.
On Monday night, Biden also had a brief meeting with White House reporters to give his opinion on the Supreme Court’s decision to grant partial immunity to former presidents, but he did not answer questions and did not address the debate.
Following his performance on June 27, sources close to Biden’s team said the president’s hoarseness was due to a cold he had been experiencing for several days.
On Tuesday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden was not taking medication during the day of the debate and denied that the president suffered from Alzheimer’s or any type of dementia.
Jean-Pierre argued that Biden can continue to carry out his duties despite his age, which at 81 makes him the oldest president in the history of the United States.
