Joe Biden has revealed that he came close to falling asleep during the initial presidential debate of last week, attributing his lackluster performance to fatigue from extensive travel prior to the event. The US president, aged 81, admitted that he regretted his decision to travel extensively in the weeks leading up to the debate in Atlanta. Critics, as well as supporters, urged him to withdraw from the race for the White House due to his poor showing.
Mr. Biden shared with his supporters during a campaign event in Virginia that he had traveled extensively, spanning around 100 time zones. He confessed that he disregarded his staff’s advice, resulting in near-drowsiness during his appearance on stage. While acknowledging his subpar performance, he admitted, “I didn’t deliver my best that night.”
Media outlets were unable to film the fundraising event hosted by the Biden campaign, so it remains uncertain whether his remarks were jestful, reported NBC, Sky News’ US collaborator.
The president’s itinerary included visits to France and Italy in two separate journeys within a fortnight the previous month. After attending the G7 summit in Bari, he flew overnight to join a fundraiser with former President Barack Obama in Los Angeles on June 15 before returning to Washington the following day.
Despite spending six days at Camp David to prepare, Biden struggled through the TV debate against the anticipated Republican nominee, Donald Trump, with his performance criticized as faltering and inadequate by some from his own party.
Read more about the debate, aftermath, and reactions here
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White House officials have attributed his stuttering performance to a cold, though Mr. Biden did not acknowledge any illness.
Conversely, the energetic and coherent 78-year-old Trump, a vocal critic of Mr. Biden’s age suitability for reelection, appeared dynamic while reiterating disputed allegations.
Furthermore, there is mounting pressure from leading Democrats for Mr. Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential campaign.
Lloyd Doggett, a Democratic Congressman from Texas, emphasized the critical need to prevent an authoritarian regime, highlighting the significance of the upcoming election.
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