Biden claims he 'almost fell asleep' during presidential debate because of foreign travel

President Joe Biden on Tuesday night blamed his recent international excursions for his lackluster performance during the first presidential debate last week. 

In June alone, the president traveled to France in order to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, then returned to Washington before going back to Europe, for the Group of Seven Summit in Italy. He also flew to California and back, and then Atlanta for the debate, according to NBC News.

Biden admitted that he "wasn't very smart" for traveling so much in the same month that he would then be debating his opponent, but urged Democrats to stay with him because it is crucial that the party defeats former President Donald Trump in November.

“I decided to travel around the world a couple of times … shortly before the debate," Biden said at a fundraiser in Virginia. "I didn’t listen to my staff … and then I almost fell asleep onstage. It’s not an excuse but an explanation."

The White House previously claimed the president had a cold, which affected his debate performance, but Democratic insiders still panicked over the showing. Some commentators have described Biden's debate as a crisis, and insiders suggested the party should consider replacing Biden with a different candidate. 

Some lawmakers have also called for Biden to bow out of the race, including Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat. Doggett claimed the stakes for the November election are "too high" for Biden to be the nominee if they hope to beat Trump.

Biden, who is the oldest president at 81, previously acknowledged his less-than-ideal debate performance in a speech on Friday, admitting that he was not as young and vibrant as he used to be.

“I know I’m not a young man,” Biden told supporters in North Carolina. “I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know — I know how to tell the truth!”

The vast majority of voters have also acknowledged Biden's fitness problems, with 75% claiming that Democrats have a better chance of beating Trump in November if Biden is no longer the nominee, according to a CNN poll conducted from Friday to Sunday, which was after the debate.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.