Joe Biden said Tuesday that his failed debate with Donald Trump on Thursday was due to fatigue from his recent international travels, having visited France and then Italy in June.
The US president admitted that it was “not very smart” to have “travelled around the world several times” shortly before this confrontation, and that it had led him to “almost fall asleep on stage” during a meeting with Democratic donors near Washington, adding: “It is not an excuse, but an explanation.”
“I didn’t listen to my advisers,” the 81-year-old Democrat said again, five days after the debate, in which he appeared very confused and at times completely lost in the face of his Republican predecessor, whom he faces in the presidential election in November.
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Until now, the main argument of his supporters was to say that Joe Biden had had a “bad evening”, a passing one, and to emphasize that he was suffering from a “cold” hampering his speech.
This calamitous debate has sparked a wave of panic in the Democratic camp, where people are now openly questioning Joe Biden’s abilities and the future of his candidacy.
The American president visited France from June 5 to 9, for the ceremonies of the Allied landings in Normandy and for a state visit. On the day of his arrival, June 5, after traveling overnight, he remained at his hotel all day.
He then went to Italy from June 12 to 14 for a G7 summit, followed directly by a campaign trip to California.
The Democrat then retreated for six days to prepare for the debate with his advisers at the Camp David residence near Washington, a period during which he had no public activity.
