Fatigue attributed to recent travel
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has admitted that he was on the verge of falling asleep during the presidential debate against former president Donald Trump. According to Biden, the fatigue was due to the trips he had made days before to Italy for the G7 summit and to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. During a fundraising event in Virginia, Biden admitted that he decided to go around the world before the debate, without listening to his team, and that he almost fell asleep on stage. He clarified that it was not an excuse, but an explanation.
Criticism of Biden’s performance
Biden’s performance in the presidential debate was harshly criticized. He projected an aged image, with a hoarse voice and difficulty concluding some sentences. This raised doubts among voters and members of the Democratic Party about her ability to govern and take on Trump in the November election. Despite the criticism, Biden asserted that her debate performance was crucial to winning the election.
Clarifications on Biden’s hoarseness
After the debate, there was speculation about Biden’s hoarseness. Sources close to his team claimed it was due to a cold she had been experiencing for several days. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre assured that Biden was not taking medication during the debate and ruled out that the president suffered from Alzheimer’s or some type of dementia. Jean-Pierre defended Biden’s ability to carry out his work despite his age, since at 81 he became the oldest president in the history of the United States.
Kamala Harris’ support for Biden
US Vice President Kamala Harris defended Biden and dismissed rumors about the possibility of replacing him in the race for the White House. In an interview, Harris said she was proud to be Biden’s running mate and she noted that she had a weak start but a very strong finish in the debate. A recent poll showed that 49% of voters would support Trump in a duel against Biden, while 43% would back the Democratic candidate.