President Joe Biden had to think for a moment on Friday when asked if he has watched his damaging debate with former President Donald Trump since it took place June 27.
The exchange with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos occurred early in the 20 minutes of interview broadcast Friday, July 5 by the network:
George Stephanopoulos: And, did you ever watch the debate again?
President Joe Biden: [2-second pause] I don’t think I did, no.
Also early in the interview, Biden attributed his halting, stumbling performance while debating former President Donald Trump to exhaustion from a bad cold he picked up during foreign travel.
But later in the interview, Biden said: “I just had a bad night. I don’t know why.”
Biden pushed back against repeated questions from Stephanopoulos about whether he would take a cognitive test to determine his mental acuity.
George Stephanopoulos: I know your doctor said he consulted with a neurologist. I guess I’m asking a slightly different question. Have you had the specific cognitive tests, and have you had a neurologist, a specialist, do an examination?
President Joe Biden: No, no one said I had to. No one said — they said I’m good.
George Stephanopoulos: Would you be willing to undergo an independent medical evaluation that included neurological and cognitive tests, and release the results to the American people?
President Joe Biden: Look, I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test. Everything I do.
You know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world. That sounds like hyperbole. But we are the central nation in the world. [several inaudible words]
Biden went on to cite telephone conversations with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and with Great Britain’s new prime minister, Keir Starmer, as examples of his activity. He also cited his attempts to expand the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and “taking on Putin” as examples of decisions he has to make every day.
George Stephanopoulos: And you have been doing that, and the American people have been watching. Yet their concerns about your age and your health are growing. So that’s why I’m asking: To reassure them, would you be willing to have the independent medical evaluation?
President Joe Biden: Watch me between — There’s a lot of time left in this campaign. There’s over a hundred and twenty-five days. They’ll make their decision.
George Stephanopoulos: So the answer – The answer right now is no. You don’t want to do that right now.
President Joe Biden: Well, I’ve already done it.
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