In an effort to explain his poor debate performance, President Joe Biden has made inaccurate statements about President Donald Trump, alleging interruptions that never occurred. Biden made these remarks during an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News on Friday, as he faces increasing pressure from within his party to step down from the presidential race.
Biden, who is 81 years old, described his debate showing as a “bad episode,” blaming exhaustion from a “really bad cold” as the primary reason for his difficulties. He claimed responsibility for his debate preparation but falsely accused Trump of shouting and interrupting him, despite evidence showing Trump remained silent while Biden fumbled.
“Even when I was answering a question, even though they turned his mic off, he was still shouting,” Biden asserted. “And I let it distract me.” This claim, however, is not supported by the debate footage, which shows Trump standing quietly as Biden spoke.
The President’s comments are part of an attempt to quell doubts about his fitness for office, as he seeks to prevent Democrats from replacing him as their nominee. Biden’s struggle to perform well in the debate has heightened concerns among voters, donors, and party officials about his capability to lead effectively.
Biden’s decision to attribute his debate issues to Trump highlights the ongoing tension between the two political figures and underscores the challenges Biden faces as he tries to solidify his candidacy in the face of mounting skepticism from his own party.