With the first presidential debate going not so well, United States President Joe Biden on Friday hit back at the criticism flooding on social media and acknowledged his age and bad debate. While addressing a rally in North Carolina, Biden vowed to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump and said he knows how to do his job well.
"I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," he said.
"I don’t walk as easy 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 [and] I know how to do this job," said Biden.
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During the presidential debate of the 2024 elections, Biden gave an overall shaky performance. He stumbled while replying to the questions, his voice hoarse and his train of thought was interrupted. The debate fiasco had not only opened up criticism in his own party but has also raised concerns among Biden supporters regarding the future.
Meanwhile, Trump on the other hand hailed the first debate as a "big victory". "Biden's problem is not his age...He's grossly incompetent," said Trump while addressing a rally in Virginia.
"The question every voter should be asking themselves today is not whether Joe Biden can survive a 90-minute debate performance, but whether America can survive four more years of crooked Joe Biden in the White House," Trump said.
With the Democrats concerned about its candidate's strength, there were also rumours that Biden would drop out of the race. However, it was shot down by the party officials and dismissed such claims.
Former Democratic House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, had said that "from a performance standpoint it wasn't great." Biden's former communications director Kate Bedingfield also called it "a really disappointing debate performance."
However, senior Democrats and Biden allies showed support and defended his performance. Former President Barack Obama wrote on X that "bad debate nights happen."
"This election is still a choice between someone who fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself," said Obama.
Being confident in the way ahead, the Biden campaign said it raised $14 million on Thursday and Friday after the debate night. While, Trump raised $8 million during the debate night on Thursday.
