President Biden said on Monday he would not debate ahead of his planned September debate with Donald Trump, insisting he was “on track” again amid widespread scrutiny of his mental health.
When NBC News reporter Lester Holt asked Biden whether he would accept Trump’s offer to debate him again in the coming weeks, the president said he wasn’t interested, despite his disastrous performance against the 45th president in last month’s debate.
“I’m going to debate him when we agree to debate, and I’m going to debate him in September,” Biden told Holt.
The second (and final) presidential debate between President Trump and President Biden is scheduled for September 10th.
“Are you interested in getting back on a horse?” Holt asked Biden.
“I’m on a horse. Where have you been,” Biden retorted. “I’ve been to 22 major events, I’ve met with thousands of people, I’ve been in crowds, there’s a lot going on. I’m on a horse.”
Concerns remain about Biden’s chances of reelection after he struggled against Trump in the June 27 debate.
Biden’s performance has raised questions about whether he is still fit to lead the country. More than a dozen Democrats in Congress have called on him to step aside, but he has said he will not.
“What I’m doing is going out there and demonstrating to the American people that I’m using all of my skills, I don’t need notes, I don’t need a teleprompter, I can go out there and answer any question,” Biden said on NBC on Monday.
