Biden Downplays Debate Performance as "Bad Night," Blames Lack of Preparation

In his first TV interview since his subpar debate performance against former President Trump, Biden maintains it was an isolated incident due to exhaustion and inadequate preparation.

Amid mounting speculation about President Biden's fitness for office, the octogenarian leader sat down with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos for his first major television interview since his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

When questioned whether his poor debate showing was an indication of a more serious condition, Biden dismissed it as a "bad episode" or a "bad night" entirely attributable to his own lack of preparation.

Biden Downplays Debate Performance as "Bad Night," Blames Lack of Preparation

"It was a bad episode," Biden asserted. "No indication of a serious condition. I was exhausted. I didn't listen to my instincts in terms of preparing. It was a bad night."

Despite his insistence that the debate was a self-inflicted "bad night," Biden's explanation for his performance remained somewhat hazy. He acknowledged that he had been feeling unwell during the debate, but denied that he had actually witnessed the recording afterward.

Biden Downplays Debate Performance as "Bad Night," Blames Lack of Preparation

"I was feeling terrible," Biden said. "Matter of fact, the docs with me, I asked if they did a COVID test because they were trying to figure out what's wrong. They did a test to see whether or not I had some infection, you know, a virus. I didn't. Just had a really bad cold."

Biden also attributed part of his poor debate performance to Trump's incessant lying, accusing the former president of uttering "28 times" during the showdown.

Biden Downplays Debate Performance as "Bad Night," Blames Lack of Preparation

"The whole way I prepared – nobody's fault. Mine. Nobody's fault but mine," Biden said. "I prepared what I usually would do sitting down, as I did coming back with foreign leaders or the National Security Council, for explicit detail. "And I realized partway through that, you know, that —  I could quote it. The New York Times had me down at ten points before the debate. Nine now, or whatever the hell it is. The fact of the matter is, that when I looked at, is that, he also lied 28 times. I couldn't, I mean, the way the debate ran, not – my fault. No one else's fault. No one else's fault."

Biden's interview comes amidst growing concern among Democrats about his viability as their presidential nominee in 2024. The debate debacle has raised questions about his mental acuity and prompted some within his own party to publicly call for him to step aside.

Biden Downplays Debate Performance as "Bad Night," Blames Lack of Preparation

Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., became the latest lawmaker to express such sentiments, declaring on MSNBC shortly after the ABC News clip aired that Biden should make way for a new nominee.

Despite the mounting pressure, Biden has remained adamant that he will not bow out of the race.

"Let me say this as clearly as I can: I'm staying in the race. I will beat Donald Trump," Biden declared to supporters in Madison, Wisconsin, before the ABC News interview.

However, the fate of Biden's presidency remains uncertain as the Democratic Party grapples with the challenges of his age and potential cognitive decline.