During a campaign event in McLean, Virginia, US President Joe Biden admitted that his performance during a recent presidential debate was not up to par. He attributed this to jet lag following two overseas trips earlier in June. Despite facing mounting questions about his 2024 reelection bid, Biden acknowledged that the debate against his Republican rival, Donald Trump, did not go well.
Biden explained that he didn’t listen to his staff and traveled extensively before the debate, experiencing jet lag from crossing numerous time zones. After trips to France and Italy, he returned to Washington for the debate but nearly fell asleep on stage. While White House officials initially attributed his performance to a cold, Biden did not mention being ill during the campaign event.
Despite criticism of his debate performance, Biden remains a prominent Democratic candidate in the hypothetical matchup against Trump. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that one in three Democrats believe Biden should end his reelection bid following the debate. However, the poll also indicated that both Biden and Trump have the support of 40% of registered voters. Election Day is set for Nov 5.