June 27 CNN Live Debate and Biden’s Performance
In the US, Democratic Party Biden and Republican opponent Donald Trump, who are competing in the presidential elections to be held on November 5, faced off in the first live debate on CNN on the night of June 27. Biden failed to alleviate concerns about his age and was subject to criticism after the program. The Democratic Party and some media outlets that support Biden called on Biden to “withdraw from the presidential election.” Time magazine also put Biden on its cover and pressured him to withdraw his candidacy. However, Biden admitted that his health was not what it used to be, stated that he was still the best alternative to Trump, and announced that he would not withdraw from the race.
Biden’s Decision to Withdraw His Candidacy and the White House’s Response
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre answered reporters’ questions at a press conference. She noted that President Biden had a cold on the day of the debate, his voice was hoarse and he was jet-lagged from traveling. Jean-Pierre said Biden did not perform well in the live debate. When asked if he would withdraw his candidacy, he gave a definite “no.”
Biden’s Statements on Jet Lag and Performance
When reporters asked about Biden still suffering from jet lag despite returning from Italy almost two weeks before the live debate, Jean-Pierre said Biden has a busy schedule and that traveling can have an impact on people. Jean-Pierre emphasized that they were not using Biden’s performance as an excuse, and that they accepted that the debate did not meet expectations.
