President Joe Biden provided details about his poor debate performance for the first time on Tuesday, blaming international travel weeks prior for his poor performance on stage, which has put his re-election campaign in jeoperdy.
Speaking at a campaign fundraiser in McLean, Virginia, Biden admitted he did not have the best night, saying his trip to France and Italy in the weeks prior to the debate had him tired and low energy.
“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.
“I didn’t listen to my staff and came back and nearly fell asleep on stage. That’s no excuse but it is an explanation,” he added.
The remarks are the President’s most extended remarks yet on his performance during the first debate with Donald Trump last week.
Biden traveled to France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June before going to Italy for the Group of Seven leaders’ summit. He then flew back to the United States for a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles.
Prior to the debate, Biden was away from the public eye for six days, spending time at his vacation home in Delaware and preparing for the debate with his aides at Camp David.
Biden’s debate performance last Thursday renewed concerns among Democrats about his age and mental fitness.
The President first spoke about his debate performance at a North Carolina last Friday.
“Folks, I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious,” he told the crowd. “I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth.”
