US President Joe Biden has blamed his recent travel to Europe in the weeks before his devastating debate against Donald Trump for his poor performance on stage, as the fallout from the moment that has upended the 2024 race continues.
Five days since Biden’s confused and incoherent performance sparked fresh questions over his fitness for office, Democratic state governors were holding crisis talks, and party elders and officials were still scrambling to defend the president.
The White House has also resisted calls to release medical reports detailing Biden’s mental and physical health. Speaking to donors at a fundraiser in Virginia on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), Biden blamed his debate performance on jet lag.
“I didn’t have my best night but the fact is that you know, I wasn’t very smart. I decided to travel around the world a couple times, going through around 100 time zones. For real, I think it was about 15 time zones,” Biden said, offering some of his most extended remarks yet on his condition during the first debate with Trump this election cycle.
“Didn’t listen to my staff and came back and nearly fell asleep on stage. That’s no excuse but it is an explanation.”
Biden travelled to France in June for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings before returning days later for the G7 summit. He spent more than a week out of the public eye before the debate, including preparing for the debate at Camp David.
