President Biden says ‘I was exhausted’ during Trump debate: NPR

MADISON, Wis. — President Biden attributed his poor debate performance to “a bad episode” and a “bad night” in a highly anticipated interview with ABC News on Friday as he sought to quell calls from his Democratic party colleagues to withdraw from the presidential race.

In a 20-minute interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that was broadcast in its entirety, Biden defended his record, saying he was the candidate best positioned to defeat Donald Trump in November and refusing to undergo an independent medical evaluation — including neurological and cognitive testing — to demonstrate he is fit to serve another term.

“I have a cognitive test every day,” Biden said. “… I’m not just campaigning, I’m running the world,” because the U.S. is the central nation in the world.

Biden said he was “exhausted” during last week’s presidential debate against Trump, adding that there was “no indication of any serious condition.”

Biden, 81, said before the debate that he was sick. “I felt terrible,” he said. Medical tests, he said, showed he had a “really bad cold.”

After the debate, Biden said, his doctor looked at him and said, “You’re exhausted.”

Biden said he had done 10 events in a row since last Thursday’s debate with “great crowds, overwhelming response” and “no slip-ups.”

When asked if he was the same man today as when he took office in January 2021, Biden replied, “Yes. I was also the one who put together a peace plan for the Middle East. … I was also the one who expanded NATO.” He said the economy had grown during his administration.

When asked if he had shown any signs of decline in recent months, as reported by several news organizations, Biden replied, “Can I run 110 flat? No. But I’m still in good shape.” Asked if he was more vulnerable, he simply replied, “No.”

Biden has resisted calls to withdraw from the race. Earlier, Biden delivered a defiant speech at a rally where he shook dozens of hands and addressed speculation swirling about whether he would drop out of the race. “This is my answer: I’m in and I’m going to win again.”

Biden says Democratic leaders are telling him to stay in the White House.

On Friday afternoon, Biden told reporters that he had the support of elected Democratic leaders from across the country. Biden said he has spoken to at least 20 congressional leaders and every Democratic governor and that they have told him to stay in the race.

The Washington Post reported Friday that Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., was working to get a group of Democratic senators to ask Biden to leave the campaign. Responding to that report, Biden said, “Mark Warner, as I understand it, is the only one who is considering that.”

In the ABC interview, he said, “Mark is a good person. … I have a different perspective.”

But Warner wasn’t the only one making his voice heard. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Friday urged Biden to evaluate whether he was the party’s best hope to defeat former President Donald Trump. Biden said, “Healey didn’t say anything when I was in the room.” Biden met with the nation’s Democratic governors this week.

And Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives have decided to hold a virtual meeting Sunday with top Democrats on House committees, a source familiar with the planning said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a private conversation.

Biden told ABC he did not watch the debate afterward

The impromptu interview became extremely important to Biden and a key test of his cognitive abilities. It could either quell or amplify calls for Biden to step aside.

“I think it’s very important to a lot of donors and to a lot of elected officials that you hear about in the media,” Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.) told NPR.

But it’s unclear how broadly the interview will resonate with voters. Polls have long shown that voters are concerned about Biden’s age, but whether the debate — let alone the interview — will move the needle remains to be seen.

“What I’m hearing from voters on the ground is that many of them may not even know this interview is happening on a Friday,” Williams said.

When asked by Stephanopoulos if he watched the debate afterwards, Biden replied, “I don’t think so, no.”