US President Joe Biden Attributes Poor Debate Performance to Exhaustion from International Travel

U.S. President Joe Biden has acknowledged that his performance during last Thursday's presidential debate was subpar, attributing it to jet lag after two overseas trips earlier in June. Speaking at a campaign event in McLean, Virginia, on Tuesday evening, Biden admitted that he didn't have his best night, citing his decision to travel around the world a couple of times, crossing around 100 time zones, before the debate.

"I didn't listen to my staff and came back and nearly fell asleep on stage," he said, speaking without the aid of a teleprompter. "That's no excuse, but it is an explanation." Biden's remarks come as he faces mounting questions about his 2024 reelection bid, with one House of Representatives fellow Democrat publicly calling on him to withdraw from the race.

Biden's travel schedule has been grueling, with two separate trips to France and Italy in the space of two weeks last month. He flew overnight from the Group of Seven summit in Bari, Italy, to appear at a fundraiser with former President Barack Obama in Los Angeles on June 15 before returning to Washington the following day. He then spent six days at Camp David preparing for the June 27 debate.

White House officials have blamed Biden's halting performance during the debate on a cold, but Biden did not mention being sick during Tuesday's fundraiser. Instead, he attributed his poor performance to jet lag, sparking concerns about his ability to withstand the demands of the presidency.

Why it Matters : Biden's shaky debate performance has significant implications for his reelection bid. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Tuesday showed that one in three Democrats think Biden should end his reelection bid following the debate. While no prominent elected Democrat does any better than Biden in a hypothetical matchup against Trump, the poll suggests that Biden's performance has raised concerns about his ability to lead the country.

The poll found that both Trump, 78, and Biden, 81, maintain the support of 40% of registered voters, suggesting that Biden has not lost ground since the debate. However, the fact that a significant number of Democrats are questioning his ability to lead the country is a worrying sign for the Biden campaign.

As the election season heats up, Biden's performance will be under intense scrutiny. His ability to bounce back from this setback and convince voters that he is fit to lead the country will be crucial to his reelection bid.

Key Takeaways:

• President Joe Biden blames jet lag for his shaky debate performance, citing his recent overseas trips.
• Biden's travel schedule has been grueling, with two separate trips to France and Italy in the space of two weeks last month.
• One in three Democrats think Biden should end his reelection bid following the debate, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
• Biden's performance has raised concerns about his ability to lead the country, with many questioning his fitness for office.
• The election season is heating up, and Biden's ability to bounce back from this setback will be crucial to his reelection bid.