Joe Biden interview: Blames poor debate performance on Trump distracting him - after admitting he couldn't remember if he watched it back

President Joe Biden said he couldn't recall if he rewatched his disastrous debate with Donald Trump and again blamed being sick for the car crash peformance.

The 81-year-old told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos he is staying in the race in one of the most important interviews of his career as he faces a mountain of calls to step aside.

The first clips from the sit-down aired at 6.30pm Eastern Time, the full interview will air in primetime at 8pm.

It was a bad episode. No indication of any serious condition. I was exhausted. I did listen to my instincts in terms of preparing, and I had a bad night.

Stephanopoulos then asked if seven days rest in Camp David wasn't enough, and reiteraterated that Biden's trip to Europe finished 11 or 12 days before the debate.

Because I was sick. Was feeling terrible. Matter of fact, the doctors with me, I asked if they did a covid test, trying to figure out what was wrong. He did a test to see whether or not I had some infection, you know, a virus. He just said a really bad cold.

The ABC host and former Bill Clinton aide asked: 'And did you ever watch the debate afterwards?'

Biden said: 'I don't think I did, no'.

President Joe Biden appeared to forget the name of new U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer - who he spoke with Friday by phone - during his 22-minute sit-down with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.

For example, today, before I come out here, I'm on the phone with the - prime minister - well, anyway I shouldn't get into detail - with Netanyahu, I'm on the phone with the new prime minister of England.'

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent in Washington, D.C.

President Joe Biden suggested that only God would get him to exit the 2024 presidential race.

'If the Lord almighty comes down I might do that,' he told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos when asked what it might take for him to step down.

More and more Democrats have come out publicly making that ask.

But Biden remained defiant through his 22-minute sit-down with Stephanopoulos.

The ABC News anchor and former Bill Clinton aide asked Biden if he really believed that polls - that show him losing to former President Donald Trump - are inaccurate.

'I think - all the pollsters I talk to tell me it's a toss-up, it's a toss-up,' Biden replied.

He then added, 'I don't buy that,' when Stephanopoulos cited surveys that showed him losing the popular vote - which he won overwhelmingly four years ago - to Trump this time around.

'I don't think anyone's more qualified to be president or win this race than me,' the president argued.

Stephanopoulos pointed to how Biden has said about Trump that the Republican is only serving his personal interest by running for president, pointing to recent criticism of Biden that he's doing that too by staying put at the top of the Democratic ticket.

'Oh come on, I don't think those critics know what they're talking about,' Biden answered. 'They're just wrong.'

Stephanopoulos pointed to a Washington Post report Friday that said Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner was planning to get a group of Democratic senators to tell Biden to exit the race.

Biden called Warner a 'good man' but then floated he had ulterior motives.

'He also tried to get the nomination,' the president said.

Warner did not run for president in 2020.

Asked what Biden would do if Democratic leadership in Congress asked him to step aside, the president pointed out that he had already had conversations with Rep. Jim Clyburn - who saved his 2020 bid with an endorsement in South Carolina - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others.

'They all said I should stay in the race,' Biden said.

Stephanopoulos then asked what Biden would do if those leaders changed their tune.

'They're not going to do that,' Biden said.

'Yeah, I'm sure,' he added, when pressed.

'Look, I mean, if the Lord almighty came down and said Joe get out of the race I'd get out of the race, the Lord almight's not coming down,' the president said.

President Joe Biden flubbed the years of various elections for a second time Friday during his sit-down Friday with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.

He noted the predicted 'red wave' - what was expected to happen in the 2022 midterm races.

But instead of accurately stating that year - he mentioned 2024 and 2020 - presidential election years.

I remember them telling me the same thing in 2020 - I can't win, the polls show I can't win - remember 2024, 2020, the red wave was coming, before the vote I said that's not going to happen, we're gonna win. We did better in an off-year than almost any incumbent president ever has done. They said it in 2023, all the tough races we're not gonna win. I went into all those areas, all those districts and we won.'

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent in Washington, D.C.

A defiant President Joe Biden refused to have an independent medical exam telling ABC's George Stephanopoulos 'No I've already done it.'

He brushed off the idea of having a fresh cognitive exam, pointing to his work load every day.

'Well look, after that debate I did 10 major events in a row including until two o'clock in the morning after that debate. I did events in North Carolina, I did events in Georgia, I did events like yesterday, large crowds, overwhelming response, no, no slipping. And so I just had a bad night. I don't know why,' Biden said.

Stephanopoulos asked what Biden's doctor told him after the debate.

'He said - he just looked at me - he said you're exhausted,' the president replied.

Biden noted how medical doctors travel with him constantly, giving him an 'ongoing assessment.'

The ABC anchor then pressed if Biden had a full neurological and cognitive evaluation.

'I get a full neurological test every day - with me - and I've had a full physical,' the president answered. 'Yes,' he added.

Stephanopoulos then asked if Biden had a specialist examine him.

'No, no one said I had to - they said I'm good,' the president replied.

The journalist then asked if Biden would 'be willing to undergo an independent medical evaluation that included neurological and cognitive tests' and release those results publicly.

The president resisted.

'Look, I have a cognitive test every single day, every day I have that test, everything I do,' Biden answered. 'Not only on my campaign, but I'm running the world.'

As the president chronicled what his days looked like, Stephanopoulos pushed back, noting how Americans have become increasingly concerned about the 81-year-old's age and fitness - asking again if Biden would sit through an independent medical exam.

'Watch me between - there's a lot of time left in this campaign - there's over 125 day,' Biden said.

Stephanopoulos inserted, 'so the answer right now is no?' with Biden replying he had already done it.

President Joe Biden put blame on former President Donald Trump for his poor debate performance.

'I realized I was having a bad night when I realized that even when I was answering a question even if they turned his mic off he was still shouting and I let it distract me,' Biden told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos. 'I just realized that I wasn't in control.'

Part of the debate rules were that the participant not speaking had his mic muted during the Atlanta debate.

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos revealed that his pivotal sit-down with President Joe Biden lasted just 22 minutes.

In the opening minutes of the ABC This Week special he also promised that there would be 'no cuts' and 'no edits.'

The interview is being played in full.

Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley has become the latest Democratic lawmaker to turn on President Biden and call for the 81-year-old commander in chief to exit the race.Quigley said that Biden needed to step aside for the good of the country, warning it was necessary to “prevent utter catastrophe.

'Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude,' he told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.'The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this.'

The embattled president said the performance was his own fault, and nobody else was to blame.

He then delivered a long-winded quote where he seemed to meander - like he did in the debate - and lose his train of thought.

The whole way I prepared -- nobody's fault but mine, nobody's fault but mine. I -- I prepared -- what I usually would do, sitting down as I did come back with foreign leaders or national security council for explicit detail. And I realized about partway through that, you know, all the -- quoted, 'The New York Times; had me down 10 points before the debate, 9,000 or whatever the hell it is.

The fact of the matter is what I looked at is that he also lied 28 times. I couldn't -- I mean, the way the debate ran, not my fault, nobody else's fault, no one else's fault.

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent For DailyMail.com

President Joe Biden told reporters Friday 'you've been wrong about everything' when he was questioned about whether he's the best candidate to take on former President Donald Trump.

Biden repeated that dropping out of the race was off the table.

'I'm completely ruling that out,' the 81-year-old said.

A journalist then pointed out how the president said 'democracy is at risk' if Trump gets reelected, asking him to make the case on how he's the best candidate to win.

'I beat him before,' Biden said, his tone turning hostile when a reporter pointed out that was four years ago.

He then told the press pool they've been wrong about 'everything.'

Biden added that he had spoken to at least 20 members of Congress.

'They tell me to stay in the race,' he said, adding that the governors told him the same.

He pushed back on The Washington Post's report that Virginia Sen. Mark Warner was assembling a group of Democratic senators to attempt to nudge Biden out the door.

'He’s the only one,' Biden said.

The president has been in damage control mode since last week's disastrous first debate.

As he departed Wisconsin Friday he pledged to do another.

'I’m committing now, absolutely,' he said.

By Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter

President Joe Biden addressed a live audience in Madison, Wisconsin, at a campaign event Friday afternoon.

Before taking the stage, a young supporter within the broadcast camera's line of sight could be seen holding a sign saying, ' PASS THE TORCH, JOE.'

A fellow supporter seems to take notice of the sign and covers it up with their own 'Biden-Harris' sign as the president turns around.

The young man is not to be deterred and appears to shout his message at Biden.

His position, just behind Biden's lectern, meant that he and his message were clearly visible to the viewing audience at a time when the president is fighting for political survival and the number of Democrats calling for Biden to exit the race is growing rapidly.

The Democratic senator Mark Warner is reportedly organizing an effort to persuade President Joe Biden to step aside. (He is seen in the picture above, second from right, at the White House in 2021.)

He is concerned that Biden cannot beat Trump and attempting to bring together a group of Demoractic senators to ask him to exit the presidential race, according to the Washington Post.

As chairman of the Senate Intelligence committee, he carries weight. And he is from Virginia, one of the states Denocrats will have to hold in order to win in November.

HIs spokeswoman would not conflrm what other sources had told the paper.

Like many other people in Washington and across the country, Senator Warner believes these are critical days for the president’s campaign, and he has made that clear to the White House.

Governor Maura Healy weighed in on whether Biden should step aside before the November election.

She said on Friday: 'President Biden saved our democracy in 2020 and has done an outstanding job over the last four years. I am deeply grateful for his leadership. And I know he agrees this is the most important election of our lifetimes.

The best way forward right now is a decision for the President to make. Over the coming days, I urge him to listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump. 

Whatever President Biden decides, I am committed to doing everything in my power to defeat Donald Trump.'

Despite a growing number of voices urging Biden to consider his re-election run, the president said on Friday in Wisconsin that he would remain in the race.

Dr Sanjay Gupta wrote a piece published on Friday where he urged president Biden to to undergo 'detailed cognitive and movement disorder testing.'

The neurosurgeon said the president should share those results with the public.

Gupta wrote: 'For me as a brain specialist, it was concerning to watch President Joe Biden.'

He added that from a neurological standpoint, he and multiple other doctors were concerned with Biden's 'confused rambling; sudden loss of concentration in the middle of a sentence; halting speech and absence of facial animation, resulting at times in a flat, open-mouthed expression.'

A cognitive test, Gupte added, would help determine whether Biden's debate perdormance was part of an 'episode of something,' or 'a condition that should be more fully investigated.'

To CNN's chief medical correspondent, it appears 'more of the latter.'

IAC chairman has joined a growing group of voices asking president Biden to pull out of the presidential election.

When asked by The Ankler whether he still supported Biden, Diller, who is married to designer Diane von Fürstenberg, simply replied, 'no.'

Diller, 81, gave the maximum amount of $6,600 to the Biden campaign in 2023.

He also gave $100,000 to Biden and the Democratic Party’s joint super PAC for the general election.

IAC is a media and internet gruup that includes the news outlet the Daily Beast.

Diller joins fellow billionaire, Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings, and Disney heiress Abigail Disney, who have said they are halting their support for Biden following his disastrous debate showing last week.

Meanqwhile, a group of wealthy donors are also secretly plotting to start Next Generation PAC, a $50-100 million effort to support a Democrat nominee not named Joe Biden, according to the New York Times.

Next Generation PAC - founded by crypto billionaire Mike Novogratz - will hold its money until Biden's resigns and give to his replacement on the ticket. Should he not get out of the race, they will focus on down-ballot Democrats but not to Biden

By Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

Karine Jean-Pierre played cleanup on Friday as she answered questions from reporters about President Joe Biden’s bedtime and medical exams.

The White House press secretary addressed reports that Biden, in his meeting with governors, told them he wouldn’t schedule events after 8 pm anymore so he could get more sleep.

Jean-Pierre didn’t deny Biden’s words but said he would work around clock while still ‘striking a balance.’

‘The President works around the clock is a 24/7 job 365 days out of the year. Obviously he also recognizes the importance of striking a balance and taking care of himself,’ she said.

‘He shared that view with governors and took ownership of trying to do too much in the lead up to the debate. That was the conversation.’

‘He understands about having an importance to having a balanced approach and taking care of himself. Right. He is human just like we all are. It is a 24/7 job. It is 365 days a week. That doesn't change.’

Jean-Pierre also cleared up questions about Biden’s last medical appointment. Biden, like all presidents, has a medical staff who travels with him 24-7. The press secretary had said on Thursday that Biden hadn’t had a physical exam since February.

But she clarified he has verbal check ins.

‘He did have a short verbal check in in the recent days about his cold. It wasn't a medical exam or physical just want to be super, super clear about that. It was a conversation and his doctor didn't didn't think an examination was necessary,’ she said.

Jean-Pierre made her comments to reporters on Air Force One as Biden travels to Madison, Wisconsin for a campaign rally. While there he will also sit down with ABC News to discuss the fallout from his debate performance.

By Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

President Joe Biden has called new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to congratulate him on Labour Party's victory, the White House said.

'This is a special relationship between our countries and the President conveyed that he looks forward to working closely with the Prime Minister on the full range of critical issues that the United States and the United Kingdom are engaged on,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Biden told Starmer that he looked forward to seeing him at the NATO summit in Washington D.C. next week.

By Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter

As the two oldest presidents in American history hold a rematch for the most powerful job in the world, many people are asking themselves 'Really? These two old guys again?' and an exclusive DailyMail.com poll shows these voters want a change.

President Joe Biden, 81, and former President Donald Trump, 78, would both be disqualified from participating in the presidential contest if the 1,000 likely voters who responded to the Daily Mail had their way.

The survey, conducted after Biden's freeze-ups and confused demeanor during his debate with Trump sparked concern among Democrats, found half of likely voters think there should be an age limit on running for president.

And the most popular choice for the age limit cutoff, perhaps unsurprisingly, would mean that Trump and Biden would have never been able to run for a first term.

The median age these respondents thought should be the cut off: 70-years-old.

By Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

President Joe Biden on Friday said 'yes' he can beat Donald Trump in November.

Biden was at Joint Base Andrews, preparing to board Air Force One for the trip to Wisconsin, when a reporter asked him if he could still defeat his Republican rival.

'Yes,' the president replied.

Trump leads Biden by 2.5 points in the FiveThirtyEight polling average. And Demorats are worried that gap will widen amid the continued fallout from the president's train wreck of a debate performance.

Biden has already made more gaffes. In a softball radio interview aired Thursday morning with a radio host in Philadelphia, the president descibed himself as a 'black woman.'

'By the way, I'm proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, first black woman... to serve with a black president. Proud to be involved of the first black woman on the Supreme Court. There's so much that we can do because, look... we're the United States of America.'

Biden appeared to be highlighting his appointment of Kamala Harris as the United States' first black female vice president and his serving as veep under Barack Obama.

It all comes as he is trying to convince Democrats to leave him their nominee while party officials ponder their next steps. Biden and his team have been reaching out to lawmakers, governors, staff and donors. While in Madison, he will tape an interview with ABC News to try and show his mental prowess.

By Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter

Former President Donald Trump sought to distance himself from a conservative think tank's plan to reform the government should Republicans win in November.

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts said Tuesday his organization and its Project 2025 initiative are attempting to take the country back.

'We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be,' Roberts said during an appearance on a far-right program.

Trump hit back on Friday, posting on his Truth Social 'I know nothing about Project 2025. I have no idea who is behind it.'

'I disagree with some of the things they're saying and some of the things they're saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal,' the former president continued. 'Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.'

By Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

President Joe Biden canceled plans to speak to the country's largest teachers' union on Sunday after staff went on strike.

The National Education Association Staff Organizations announced Friday they were striking against parent union the National Education Association, accusing the NEA of wage theft and failing to provide information regarding outsourcing $50 million to contractors.

Biden, who was scheduled to speak at the NEA conference in Philadelphia on Sunday, won't cross the picket line, his campaign announced.

Jill Biden, a teacher, is a member of the NEA.

The president, who is spending the weekend at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, will still travel to Pennslyvania on Sunday.

'President Biden is a fierce supporter of unions and he won’t cross a picket line. The President is still planning to travel to Pennsylvania this weekend, and we will have more details to share at a later point,' the Biden campaign said.

By Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter

Former President Donald Trump slammed ABC News host George Stephanopoulos ahead of his highly anticipated interview with President Joe Biden Friday night.

'The meanest and most vicious Interviewer out there is George Slopadopoulos of FAKE NEWS ABC, one of the worst and most vile Broadcasters in the business — In fact, the home of disgraced 'reporter' Brian Ross whose reporting on the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax was so outlandish that ABC, after defending him at levels not seen before, was forced to put him, and their reputation, out to pasture,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social app.

'Now ABC, and Liddle’ George, a tiny, angry man, can make up for their past indiscretions and journalistic failures by doing a real interview with Crooked Joe, not a cut up promotion with only his few coherent answers released to the public.'

As Democrats have asked Biden to do interviews in a media blitz post-debate, his first test to determine whether he can keep hold of the party's confidence will be the ABC interview this evening.

However, the conversation is pretaped, giving the outlet much control over how the president will appear and adding a veil between viewers and Biden's true condition.

By Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter

Joe Biden's White House and campaign staff are 'miserable' as senior aides scramble to 'prop up' president in desperate straights as calls for him to prove his acuity grow louder.

'The only thing that can really allay concerns is for the president to demonstrate that he's capable of running this campaign,' a senior Democrat National Committee official told Axios. 'Everything else feels like 'Weekend at Bernie's' by his inner circle to prop him up.'

The sources said Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, Jill Biden's top advisor Anthony Bernal, and longtime aide Ashley Williams have been helping the president in extraordinary ways.

'Annie, Ashley and Anthony create a protective bubble around POTUS. He's staffed so closely that he's lost all independence. POTUS relies on staff to nudge him with reminders of who he's meeting, including former staffers and advisers who Biden should easily remember without a reminder from Annie,' a former aide said.

The protective cocoon of aides was seen as helpful at first, but now the sources said, they are seen as potentially deceptive.

Donald Trump sent warm congratulations to his friend Nigel Farage on becoming a member of the British Parliament for the first time.

'Congratulations to Nigel Farage on his big WIN of a Parliament Seat Amid Reform UK Election Success. Nigel is a man who truly loves his Country! DJT,' the Republican presidential nominee wrote in a post on TruthSocial.

But in his social media post, Trump made no reference to newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer has previously said that his government will work with whomever is in the White House following November's election.

By Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

Democrats have begun to speculate on who could be Kamala Harris’ running mate if Joe Biden drops out of the presidential race.

Names on the list include many governors: Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Andy Beshear of , Kentucky, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, CNN reported.

Additionally, party operatives are circulating an anonymously written Google document titled ‘Unburdened by What Has Been: The Case for Kamala,’ which includes a plan for a Harris presidential campaign.

‘There’s one path out of this mess, and it’s Kamala,’ the document reads.

Biden, his campaign and White House officials have said he’s staying in the race. But the clock is ticking for the president to show he is up for the job.

By Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter

Joe Biden campaign staffers are working to reassure upset donors that their money will be spent and won't go to a defunct candidate.

'We are fully planning for President Biden to be the nominee, but the majority of the money raised through the Biden Victory Fund goes to the D.N.C., which supports all Democrats on the ballot,' a staffer told donors, the New York Times reported.

The campaign's maneuvering comes after heiress and major Democrat donor Abigail Disney announced she will stop donations to Joe Biden and the entire party until the ailing president steps down.

The granddaughter to Roy Disney, the co-founder of the Walt Disney Corporation, has often made noise for her liberal politics despite her wealth, which is believed to be around $120 million.

'I intend to stop any contributions to the party unless and until they replace Biden at the top of the ticket. This is realism, not disrespect. Biden is a good man and has served his country admirably, but the stakes are far too high,' she said in a statement.

Emily Goodin, senior U.S. political reporter

President Joe Biden heads to Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday for a campaign event but, more importantly, he'll be sitting down for the most important television of his career.

Biden, 81, will be interviewed by ABC's George Stephanopoulos in his first on-camera interview since last week's debate.

The president is trying to hold Democrats together behind his candidacy as concerns among the party grow as to whether he can beat Donald Trump in November.

Biden has reportedly acknowledged he is facing a ticking clock when it comes to convincing people of his competence and the ABC interview will be a huge part of that.

The network will air the interview in its entirety at 8 pm ET.

Donald Trump challenged Joe Biden to another debate, offering a 'no holds barred' discussion on the issues of the day 'anytime, anywhere, anyplace.'

He proposed having just the two of them on stage with no moderator.

Trump issued his challenge as Biden is struggling to maintain support among Democrats to stay their nominee after he bombed in the first president debate last week.

The former president argued another debate would bring in massive ratings and would allow Biden 'to prove his "competence," or lack thereof' and added 'it would be yet another test for me.'

I have the answer to the Crooked Joe Biden Incompetence Puzzle — Let’s do another Debate, but this time, no holds barred - An all on discussion, with just the two of us on stage, talking about the future of our Country.

It would also, under great pressure, prove his “competence,” or lack thereof. Likewise it would be yet another test for me. What a great evening it would be, just the two of us, one on one, in a good, old fashioned Debate, the way they used to be. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!!!

Kamala Harris accidentally referred to Joe Biden as the 'vice president,' echoing a verbal gaffe her boss made earlier, during a July 4 event at the White House.

With many wondering if she could replace Biden as Democrats' candidate for president were he to drop out, she was positively giddy while giving the speech.

She said: 'We give thanks to our commander-in-chief, the vice - the president of the United States! The extraordinary President of the United States Joe Biden!'

Biden then took in the applause from the Washington crowd and wished everyone a happy Independence Day amid calls for him to step down by many of his fellow Democrats.

The brief error was similar to one that Biden himself had made in an interview with a black radio station in Philadelphia.

Biden described himself as a black woman during a radio interview flub, as calls mount for the 81 year-old president to drop his re-election bid.

The gaffe-prone president stumbled over his words during Thursday's interview with Philadelphia's WURD, seemingly mixing himself up with his Vice President Kamala Harris.

'By the way, I'm proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, first black woman... to serve with a black president. Proud to be involved of the first black woman on the Supreme Court. There's so much that we can do because, look... we're the United States of America.'

Biden appeared to be highlighting his appointment of Kamala Harris as the United States first black female vice president.

Confusingly, he himself was previously vice president, which is likely what he was referring to in 'to serve with a black president.'

President Joe Biden told Democratic governors that he plans to stop holding events past 8 p.m. - so he can get more sleep.

The New York Times reported on the tidbit coming out of the high-stakes meeting with some of the Democratic Party's rising stars at the White House Wednesday night - in which Biden told the group he was staying in the race.

And it comes after Axios cited staffers saying he already clocked a succinct 10 am to 4 pm workday, with an afternoon nap.

Biden told the governors 'that he told his staff he needed to get more sleep,' the Times reported citing multiple sources familiar with the meeting, and 'said he needed to work fewer hours and avoid events after 8 p.m.'

During the same meeting, Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii asked Biden about his health.

The president replied that his health is fine.

'It’s just my brain,' he then said - a comment that some of the governors took as a joke, while at least one found strange.

The governors said they provided 'feedback' and expressed 'concerns,' but the 81-year-old president's heels were dug in.

Biden and his White House team blamed jetlag and a cold for his disastrous performance in the debate against former President Donald Trump one week ago.

Jen O'Malley Dillon, Biden's campaign chair, played clean-up on the comment: 'He was clearly making a joke,' she said.