Biden Blames Jet Lag for Poor Debate Performance

President Joe Biden has attributed his poor debate performance last week to jet lag, admitting to reporters that he “wasn’t very smart” for “traveling around the world a couple of times” before the debate. “I didn’t listen to my staff… and then I nearly fell asleep on stage,” Biden, 81, said. He returned from travel on June 15, nearly two weeks ahead of the June 27 debate.

Biden’s remarks come amid intra-party panic about his mental fitness ahead of November’s election. This panic has been exacerbated by Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett, the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to call for Biden to step aside following the debate. “I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw,” Rep. Doggett said.

During a debate with former President Donald Trump last Thursday, Biden appeared to struggle through some responses. At a private fundraiser in Virginia on Tuesday evening, he called his travel an explanation, not an excuse, for his performance. He also apologized and emphasized the importance of winning re-election.

Last month, Biden made two trips to Europe. On June 15, he attended a fundraiser with former President Barack Obama after an overnight trip from Italy. He returned to Washington, DC, the following day. White House officials previously said he was battling a cold on the day of the debate, but the president did not mention any illness in his recent remarks.

Biden also spent six days at Camp David preparing for the debate. The New York Times reported that his days began at 11:00 each morning, with time allotted for napping, due to exhaustion from travel. His spokesman, Andrew Bates, said Biden started “working well before” 11:00, following his exercise routine.

Biden’s age has been a persistent issue this election, with multiple polls indicating voters think he is too old to be effective. He is the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for the White House and has vowed to stay in the race despite the debate performance.

In his statement on Tuesday, Rep. Doggett, 77, said the debate solidified his decision to urge Biden to step aside. “Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump’s many lies,” he said. Doggett emphasized the need for Biden to encourage a new generation of leaders.

Biden is set to give a primetime interview to ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday, his first since the debate. While some prominent Democratic lawmakers have voiced concerns about Biden’s age and stamina, none except Rep. Doggett has called for him to step aside. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Jim Clyburn have reiterated their support for Biden, emphasizing that the decision to leave the race is the president’s alone.