We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
US PRESIDENT JOE Biden has blamed exhaustion from international travel for his dismal debate performance against Donald Trump last week.
Biden has not given any interviews since the debacle, but said at a fundraiser that he “wasn’t very smart” for “traveling around the world a couple times… shortly before the debate.”
“I didn’t listen to my staff,” he said. “And then I almost fell asleep on stage.”
Biden traveled to France from 5 to 9 June to commemorate the 1944 Allied landings, headed back to the United States, and then flew to Italy for a G7 summit followed immediately by a visit to California.
He then returned home and went to a presidential retreat for several days of rest and preparation for the debate.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre yesterday admitted the debate was “a bad night” but added that Biden “knows how to come back” from adversity.
She dismissed questions about him needing a cognitive test, and said the president would hold a press conference during a NATO summit in Washington next week.
The polling margins between the president and his Republican predecessor have been razor-thin for months, with Trump showing a slight advantage.
Biden pushed for an unusually early first debate in hopes that he could jolt the race while there was still time – but the plan backfired.
Biden has visibly slowed over the last year.
It has been several months since the president, who has tripped or fallen in public on several occasions, stopped using his plane’s high gangway, preferring a shorter, more stable staircase.
He has also surrounded himself with aides for the short walk from the White House to his helicopter on the lawn, hoping to prevent cameras from focusing on his stiff gait.
Biden, who has always been gaffe-prone, has not given a long press conference since January 2022 and spends most weekends in one of his Delaware homes, with no official schedule.
Vice President Kamala Harris – a leading contender to replace Biden if he exits the race – said she was proud to be his running mate.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Thats as good as “the dog ate my homework”.When you are semi senile you are semi senile. Period.
@Gerry Lamont: Semi senile is being generous
@Gerry Lamont: question is who is actually running the country because he is not making the decisions thats for sure
@and the hit’s just keep coming:
He had a bad debate, he has a life log stammer and had a few trips over words and track mid sentence.
Compare to what Trump has done and what he wants to do?
Look at the Supreme Court decisions this week, President can now announce a political enemy as a state enemy and have him killed legally. Ill informed Judges can override any state agency for anything they like…
Biden runs a good admin, does it matter how when compared to the hellscape Trump did and wants to do…
Yeah, 81 years of international travel!
Biden had a bad night. Trump has had a bad life.
@honey badger: this is not the 1st time for Biden,
@Shane O Mac: And Trump? What’s his excuse for a lifetime of his ‘behaviour’?
@honey badger: Whatever
@Eric Gaffney: Do you regularly sing songs to cables, Eric?
@honey badger: what about what about. Cop on man. The guy is cooked. He’s been senile for years you lot just drank the media’s lies straight up. I can’t wait to read a book in 10 years about how a Biden had dementia and cognitive issues his whole presidency. Don’t get me started on Trump either, just calling out the hypocrisy. Peace
Kamala in waiting. All the democratic “values” for the media. No other alternative, she was not even chosen among any kind of election within the party… How democratic is that ?
Another witch in waiting.
@Dominic Leleu: the Democrats don’t want her either, she’s less popular than Joe is. All the gaslighting from the last 4 years is catching up with the Democrats. They’ve been saying how mentally sharp Joe is, despite what your lying eyes showed you. Now they want him switched out.
@John K: according to the most recent noises it seems she’s now got a higher favorable % than Biden. Not my reporting, just going by what Reuters were saying this morning.
I’m American and a Democrat but Joe Biden does need to step aside. Yes, he froze on stage but what if he froze during an important summit, formal ceremony or anything else where it’s important to be on top of your game? Other decisions are also at stake. I like you Joe but a younger candidate is just what the Democratic Party needs to revive its stagnant momentum. If he refuses to withdraw, I won’t be voting- I can’t endorse either Biden or Trump; they’re both terrible choices for President.
@Wicked Hedgehog: agree completely. What are your thoughts on a replacement candidate? I hear the name Gavin Newsom mentioned, but doesn’t he have some bad decision-making in his governorship history?
@Shelley Keary: I do think Newsom should be considered; so should Gretchen Whitmer and Pete Buttigieg- I’d love to see what they have to offer.
@Wicked Hedgehog: . Time to go Joe. November is too important.
@Shelley Keary: The California governor would eat trump alive and still have some for afters
@Wicked Hedgehog: Pete Buttigieg – Isn’t that the guy who, after receiving a surrogate baby, had photos taken of himself in a hospital bed gown with his husband and the surrogate baby? He was also wearing a hospital bracelet. Is this the same guy you think should be considered??
@Wicked Hedgehog: Well said, could’nt agree more, American politics is in the toilet right now.
@Wicked Hedgehog: I agree with the start of your post but the ‘endorse’ bit frightens me. He has been a good President in many ways, not all. By not voting for Biden, as it stands, you are endorsing the supreme court, a criminal who will pardon himself, the Jan 6th crowd, fossil fuels companies, anti Democracy, the Republican party, abortion rights and the extreme wealthy, etc, etc, etc.
Please VOTE Biden but hopefully it will be Gavin Newsom for the long term future.
@John John: True, California ain’t perfect but his policies don’t point him out as a future dictator with a legal backing.
I understand people not voting for someone because they disagree with their policies but voting for someone who has NO policies baffles me. Please explain to me why, if you had a vote, why you vote for Trump??
@Wicked Hedgehog: what other choices is there for America of that’s the only 2 running Trumpet
Eh it’s kind of important that a president can travel abroad and still be able to function afterwards. The man is senile and clearly incapable of running a corner shop let alone a country.
To be fair, I’d be falling asleep if I had to stand there listening to Tangerine Man talking through his fat a……
It’s a true reflection of US politics and a sign of the times when a senile delinquent is “president” of what used to a country with genuine interest in the freedom of small nations.
@Denis Harkin: To be fair, they haven’t had that interest since WW2. They’ve spent the last 80 years destabilising developing nations, so they can inland proxy leaders and take those countries’ resources at little or no cost or tax paid back to those countries. All in the name of the almighty dollar.
@Barry Sorensen: exactly.
I still only like Joe cause he won me money in the bookies during the elections.
Jesus wept
@David Bergin:
Jesus Wept
Biden hadn’t slept
But both the candidates
Were totally inept
Yet when the choice
Was there to be made
The Lord did sayeth
Vote for Biden instead
He won’t trample
On cherished democracy
Lie to you permanently
Tell you to drink bleach
We might need to
Replace Old Joe
But if Trump gets in
It’s the end of the show
He’ll cut your rights
There’s no disputing
He’s the number one choice
For Vladimir Putin
If you want more riots
Corrupted judges
Tyrants happy
Women suffering
Go ahead
Vote for Trump
But I’m never coming back
You’ve too many guns
please someone take these 2 gombeens out
@Mr Sparkle: I am disrespectful to presidential candidates! Can’t you see I am serious!
Not enough oxygen on the brain , wet nappies
Hes sleeps in a king size bed on air force one hardly with the steerage ffs
They say he typically meets and greets from 10am until 4pm..as he gets tired after 4…i think he ent a rlearly riser. CNN and others are still pushing for M Obama
@Peter Brown: Michelle, sensibly, has no interest.
Part of the job Joe.
Dear Mr Biden, if you are to continue with the presidency then surely you’ll be required to do a huge amount of globetrotting during your next term.
Saying he was tired and nearly fell asleep on stage because he had been doing a lot of travel isn’t exactly a great defence, is it?
@lesidees: not really, as he knew the debate was coming up and travelling a lot is part of the job of president, that and taking ownership of issues (Trump is even worse on that later responsibility I just mentioned of course).
@TheGood Feign: not really a great defence I mean…
I almost fell asleep and I didn’t have a cold or jetlag
Anyone else sick of looking at the state of this world.
You have two families, both neck deep in criminal matters vying for the presidency of the USA and still the people of America walk blindly into the night.
Is like a bad script for a bad movie. You couldn’t make it up if you tried, oh wait they did make it up.
Open your eyes. What you think you’re looking at and what you’re actually looking at are two different things.
have your say