White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed questions from journalists during a press conference.
Jean-Pierre explained that President Biden was suffering from a cold on the day of the debate, which affected his voice, and that he was also experiencing jet lag due to his travels. "He did not have a good night," she said regarding the live debate.
When asked if Biden would withdraw from the presidential race, Jean-Pierre responded, "Absolutely not."
In response to reporters questioning why Biden was still jet-lagged nearly two weeks after returning from Italy, Jean-Pierre reiterated that Biden has a very demanding schedule, and travel and intense activity can affect anyone, regardless of age.
Jean-Pierre clarified that this was not an "excuse," adding, "We are aware that it was not a great debate performance. We wanted to explain."
First Live Debate Drew Criticism
During the first live debate on CNN on June 27, Democratic candidate Biden faced off against his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, ahead of the November 5 presidential election.
Biden failed to alleviate concerns about his age during his bid for a second term and faced significant criticism after the program. Some Democrats and media outlets supporting Biden even called for him to withdraw from the presidential race.
Acknowledging that his health is not what it once was, Biden asserted that he remains the best alternative against Trump and confirmed that he would not withdraw from the race.
