WASHINGTON – The President Joe Biden admitted on Tuesday that he “fell asleep on stage” throughout his disastrous debate final week and attributed his efficiency to the truth that he had traveled “all over the world”. generally” in two weeks earlier than the showdown. with the previous president Donald Trump.
“I wasn't very good,” Biden, 81, informed donors at a fundraiser in Virginia.
Biden at a re-election marketing campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, Friday, June 28, 2024, a day after his debate with former President Donald Trump. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Occasions“I made a decision to journey all over the world a number of instances, I don't know what number of time zones.”
“This isn’t an excuse, however a proof,” he mentioned.
White Home officers have blamed the truth that Biden had a chilly on the time disconnected performance within the debate.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White Home press secretary, repeated that clarification at a press convention Tuesday afternoon.
Cause
However Biden supplied another excuse for donors Tuesday evening.
He referred to his choice to journey to France for just a few days two weeks earlier than the talk and return to the US earlier than returning to Europe for the summit. Group of seven in Italy.
He determined to make that spherical journey throughout the Atlantic, Biden mentioned, blaming himself for not “listening to my workers,” implying that he had been informed to not.
He mentioned the choice triggered it fatigue through the debate.
Biden's feedback got here because the White Home scrambled to answer a anxiety chorus inside the Democratic Get together whether or not the president is able to working a successful marketing campaign towards Trump in November.
For greater than a yr, Biden and his advisers have repeatedly denied this : Age: of the president has affected his potential to carry out his duties.
They’ve repeatedly criticized reporters who raised the problem that a big majority of voters say they imagine Biden is just too previous to be president.
final result
However the debate, which was seen by some 51 million folksraised severe doubts amongst voters and plenty of Democratic activists.
Democratic lawmakers additionally expressed concern, with the primary member of Congress, Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, who referred to as on Biden to drop out of the race on Tuesday.
The president and his marketing campaign have refused to take action both.
They are saying Biden stays decided to remain within the race and defeat Trump, who he says is a risk to democracy in the US.
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