US election campaign - Biden explains embarrassing TV debate against Trump: I almost fell asleep on stage
US-President Joe Biden explained his weak performance in the first televised debate against challenger Donald Trump with the consequences of exhausting foreign trips. During a campaign appearance in the US state of Virginia on Tuesday evening (local time), Biden told traveling journalists that he had effectively traveled around the world multiple times before the TV debate, crossing over 100 time zones – which was "not very smart." He admitted he hadn't listened to his staff – "and then I almost fell asleep on stage." This was not an apology, but an explanation, the incumbent said.
President with jetlag? Biden's full travel calendar
In Biden's calendar for the past month, there were indeed two major foreign trips. First, he attended a commemoration of the Allied landing in Normandy, France, at the beginning of June. Immediately following this, Biden undertook a state visit to Paris, where France's president welcomed him with a grand program. He then returned to the US – only to travel back to Italy in mid-June for the G7 Summit. From there, he went back over nine time zones to the US West Coast, where he participated in an exclusive fundraising gala for his campaign in Los Angeles.
On June 17, Biden received NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington. From June 20 onwards, he stayed at Camp David – the US President's retreat near the capital – to prepare for the debate with his team and avoid any public engagements for nearly a week.
Biden criticizes himself in TV debate against Donald Trump
Biden, at 81 the oldest president in US history, spoke loudly and forcefully during the CNN debate with his likely opponent Donald Trump on Thursday evening, but he stumbled over his words repeatedly and left several sentences unfinished. Although the heavyweights in the Democratic Party have publicly expressed their support for Biden, the nervousness of his supporters and donors has grown since the debate.
Is the Democrat powerless?
According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, one in three Democrats believe Biden should drop out of the race following the debate. However, in a hypothetical matchup with Trump, no prominent Democratic candidate performs better than Biden. Despite the controversy, the poll shows both candidates tied in the race for the presidency on November 3, with each receiving support from 40% of registered voters. This suggests that Biden has not lost ground since the debate.
- Despite his exhausting foreign trips, including attending the Normandy commemoration in France and participating in the G7 Summit in Italy, US President Joe Biden criticized his performance during the televised debate against challenger Donald Trump, citing jetlag as a factor.
- In the recent presidential race, Donald Trump and Joe Biden engaged in a heated television debate, with Biden struggling due to exhaustion from his extensive travel schedule, which included visiting France for the Normandy commemoration and attending a state visit in Paris.
- As the US election campaign heated up, incumbent US President Joe Biden faced criticism for his performance in a televised debate against Donald Trump, with the former president commenting on Biden's exhaustion following his foreign travels to France, Italy, and other countries.
- In the midst of his election campaign, US President Joe Biden admitted to feeling the effects of jetlag during a televised debate against opponent Donald Trump, having recently visited France for the Normandy commemoration and participating in other international events.
