“Almost Fell Asleep”: Biden Reacts to Debate Struggles Against Trump

Joe Biden and Donald Trump accused each other of being the worst leaders in history.

US President Joe Biden today attributed his poor debate performance against Republican rival Donald Trump to jet lag from his recent international travels.

“It’s not an excuse, but an explanation,” Biden said during a fundraiser.

Biden admitted he “wasn’t very smart” for “traveling around the world a couple of times… just before the debate.”

“I didn’t listen to my staff,” he confessed. “And then I almost fell asleep on stage.”

Biden had traveled to France, returned to the United States, then went to Italy, among other destinations, over a 14-day period. He only had a few days to rest at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Observers noted that he seemed exhausted during this time.

Known for his occasional verbal slip-ups, Biden appeared to struggle while responding to former US President Donald Trump’s accusations during the debate.

A fiery Trump attacked Biden, calling him a failure in both economic and international matters. Biden tried to respond but spoke hesitantly, with a soft, trailing voice, and stumbled over his words several times.

This debate was the first ever between a sitting president and a former president, with each accusing the other of being the worst in history.

Biden’s faltering performance has led some Democrats to call for him to reconsider his bid for a second term and to do some “soul-searching.”

Biden’s comments may lead to further questions about whether the 81-year-old is capable of handling a rigorous travel schedule and packed agenda.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged that the debate was “a bad night” but added that Biden “knows how to bounce back” from tough situations.

In response to the criticism, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that people around the world are looking at Biden’s overall achievements since taking office, not just one bad night, and that they appreciate his policies.