US President Joe Biden has dismissed concerns about his health and his re-election bid in November, attributing a poor debate performance to a “bad episode.” In a Friday television interview, Biden, 81, insisted only “the Lord almighty” could persuade him to exit the race.
Following a disastrous debate in Atlanta against Republican rival Donald Trump, Biden’s approval rating dropped, and some Democratic Party leaders urged him to step down. In a 22-minute ABC News interview, Biden attributed his performance to being “exhausted” and “sick” during the debate.
Biden emphasized his qualifications, claiming he is “running the world” and more qualified than anyone to be president. When asked about taking a cognitive test, Biden responded, “I have a cognitive test every single day. Everything I do… I’m running the world.”
He dismissed concerns about his health, saying, “It was a bad episode. No indication of any serious condition.” He explained that doctors tested him for infections, suspecting a bad cold, not COVID-19.
Blaming himself for the debate mishap, Biden noted, “I prepared what I usually would do… Trump lied 28 times during the debate.” He stressed that no major Democratic leaders have asked him to withdraw and reiterated that only the “Lord Almighty” could make him drop out.
Biden acknowledged the speculation about his age, stating, “I keep seeing stories about being too old. I wasn’t too old to create over 15 million new jobs, ensure 21 million Americans are insured under the Affordable Care Act, and lower drug costs.”
Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna called for “complete transparency” from the White House, emphasizing the need for Biden to address “legitimate questions” about his abilities.
Despite the concerns, Biden asserted during a rally in Wisconsin, “I am running and going to win again. I beat [Trump] in 2020. And by the way, we’re going to do it again in 2024.”
