Jul 2, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Biden says foreign travel meant he "nearly fell asleep" during debate

Rebecca Falconer

President Joe Biden during an operational briefing at the DC Emergency Operations Center in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. — President Biden in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images

President Biden cited jet lag from foreign trips as he acknowledged his lackluster debate performance against former President Trump during a campaign fundraiser in McLean, Virginia, on Tuesday evening.

Why it matters: Biden's performance that some aides had attributed to a cold has triggered mounting dissent among Democrats, with some Congress members calling for him to withdraw as the party's 2024 nominee, per Axios' Andrew Solender.

What he's saying: Biden said at the fundraiser that he "wasn't very smart" for "traveling around the world a couple times" in the days before the June 27 debate, according to a pool report.

"I decided to travel around the world a couple of times … shortly before the debate," he said.
"I didn't listen to my staff … and then I almost fell asleep on stage," Biden said.
"It's not an excuse but an explanation," added Biden, who apologized for his performance and emphasized that it's "critical" that he win the presidential election.

Context: Biden traveled to France earlier in June to join world leaders commemorating the Allies' D-Day landings that marked a key World War II turning point in Europe.

He later attended the G7 summit in Italy that ended on June 15.

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Biden says foreign travel meant he "nearly fell asleep" during debate

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