Biden Dismisses Health Concerns, Reaffirms Re-Election Bid in Exclusive Interview

MADISON, Wis. — In his first television interview since a recent debate, President Joe Biden firmly dismissed concerns about his health and reaffirmed his commitment to seeking re-election. Speaking with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday, Biden addressed the rising anxiety among some Democrats about his fitness for office, asserting that his debate performance was merely "a bad night."

During the 22-minute interview, Biden countered calls for him to withdraw from the race, describing the June 27 debate performance as an isolated incident due to exhaustion. "It was a bad episode, no indication of any serious condition," Biden explained. "I was exhausted. I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing, and it was a bad night."

Despite suggestions from lawmakers and prominent Democrats to step aside, Biden remained resolute. When pressed on whether he would consider stepping down if urged by allies, he responded unequivocally, "I’m not going to answer that question. It’s not going to happen."

Concerns about Biden's cognitive and physical capabilities have surfaced since the debate, where he appeared momentarily confused. However, Biden dismissed these concerns and refused to commit to a cognitive exam, highlighting his demanding schedule as evidence of his capability. "I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test, everything I do," he said. "Not only am I campaigning, I’m running the world."

Biden also underscored his achievements and future plans, urging voters to judge him based on his performance in the coming months. "There are 125 days left in the campaign. Watch me in the months ahead to determine if I’m suitable to be re-elected," he asserted.

The interview aired shortly after Biden's rally in Madison, Wisconsin, where he criticized his opponent, former President Donald Trump. Biden highlighted Trump's past mistakes, including a notable error during a 2019 Fourth of July speech. "He said George Washington’s army won the Revolution by taking control of the airports from the British," Biden quipped. "Talk about me misspeaking—airports from the British in 1776? It’s true, he is a stable genius."

Biden defended his accomplishments, citing initiatives such as canceling student loan debt, nominating Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, and passing significant climate change legislation. "I’m not letting one 90-minute debate wipe out three-and-a-half years of work," he declared.

Addressing future challenges, Biden stressed the importance of the upcoming election, particularly regarding Supreme Court appointments. "For over two centuries, America’s been a free, democratic nation. And I’ll be damned if in the year 2024—just two years before our 250th anniversary as a nation—I’ll let Donald Trump take this away."

Despite calls from some lawmakers, including Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley, for Biden to step aside, the President remains determined. "Mark Warner is the only one considering that," Biden remarked, referring to reports of Warner’s plans to discuss Biden’s campaign future with Democratic senators.

President Biden’s unwavering stance underscores his commitment to his re-election campaign and his belief in his ability to lead the nation forward.