From the Liveblog of
Friday, July 5, 2024
Biden calls debate ‘bad episode’ in ABC News interview
US President Joe Biden again calls his debate against Donald Trump “a bad episode,” suggesting in an interview with ABC News that his shaky performance was due to poor preparation, exhaustion and illness.
“No indication of any serious condition. I was exhausted. I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing and — and a bad night,” Biden says.
“I was feeling terrible,” says Biden, his voice hoarse and sometimes halting. “Matter of fact the docs with me. I asked if they did a COVID test because they’re trying to figure out what was wrong. They did a test to see whether or not I had some infection, you know, a virus. I didn’t. I just had a really bad cold.
????First clip out from the ABC News Stephanopoulos/Biden interview.
Stephanopoulos did a good job putting Biden on the spot about his performance & bad excuse about a “cold.” Biden couldn’t remember if he watched the debate after it aired and made a lot of excuses. Watch below… pic.twitter.com/frEepvpuvb
— Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD (@houmanhemmati) July 5, 2024
He adds that it was no one else’s fault but his own, and that he hadn’t rewatched his debate performance.
Biden’s comments came in a clip of an interview that is being closely watched by Democrats concerned about the president’s ability to serve another four years, or beat Republican Trump in November’s election, after his faltering debate performance on June 27.
