Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
US PRESIDENT JOE Biden has dismissed concerns about his age and doubled down on his vow to remain in the country’s presidential election race, saying that only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to halt his campaign.
His remarks came in an interview with ABC News that was hyped as the most consequential of the 81-year-old’s career amid growing concern among Democratic voters and lawmakers about his fitness to govern.
In the 22-minute one-to-one which aired unedited, Biden defended his poor performance in a debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump last week that triggered calls for him to quit, but acknowledged that he had “a really bad night”.
“I was sick, I was feeling terrible… I just had a really bad cold,” Biden said. “I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing.”
EXCLUSIVE: President Biden tells @GStephanopoulos the debate was “a bad episode,” adding that he was “feeling terrible” after a busy month.
— ABC News (@ABC) July 5, 2024
The full exclusive interview airs at 8/7c on ABC.https://t.co/hlL4FaVp80 pic.twitter.com/unJF13rrQ7
He said that he allowed Trump – who he described as a “pathological liar” to distract him and accused him of lying 28 times throughout the debate.
“I realised that, even when I was answering a question and they turned his mic off, he was still shouting and I let it distract me,” he said. “I’m not blaming it on that. But I realised that I just wasn’t in control.”
Asked if staying in the race might jeopardise Democrats holding on to the White House, Biden said: “I don’t think anybody’s more qualified to be president or win this race than me.”
He denied that he was “more frail” and dodged calls to have doctors assess his mental acuity, saying that the duties of the presidency mean “I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test, everything I do.
“Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No. But I’m still in good shape.”
ABC host George Stephanopoulos repeatedly referenced the growing Democratic clamor for a conversation on picking a new candidate, and asked Biden if he would step down if convinced he couldn’t beat Trump.
“It depends. If the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me that, I might do that,” he said.
EXCLUSIVE: Pres. Biden would not commit to an independent cognitive test when pressed in an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos.https://t.co/hlL4FaVp80 pic.twitter.com/Jg2SepN8bN
— ABC News (@ABC) July 6, 2024
The interview was intended to help Biden weather the storm, but his hoarse voice and meandering answers drew immediate Democratic fire for appearing “out of touch.”
The Trump campaign mockingly posted on social media that “Biden sounds great” as the broadcast went out, before concluding the president “is in denial and in decline.”
Post-debate polls have shown a widening deficit in Trump’s favor, and at least four Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to step aside, as have major newspapers, donors and a raft of Democratic-supporting political commentators.
The Biden campaign has pushed back hard on any suggestion he may withdraw and, just hours before the ABC interview, released an aggressive campaign travel schedule for the rest of July.
Appearing at a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin, the president delivered an energetic stump speech, unequivocally declaring, “I’m staying in the race. I’ll beat Donald Trump.”
US media has reported that Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Mark Warner and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries were both planning crisis talks with lawmakers in the coming days.
David Axelrod, a top aide in Barack Obama’s White House and an occasional thorn in the side of the Biden administration, said the interview showed a president “dangerously out of touch” with concerns over his fitness for office.
“Four years ago at this time, he was 10 points ahead of Trump (in polls). Today, he is six points behind,” Axelrod posted on X.
The White House has announced Biden will visit Pennsylvania this weekend before holding a press conference during the Nato summit in Washington next week.
Contains reporting from © AFP 2024
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
By the time it goes to court it will be bottle of rum and a 6 pack of bulmers
Where is the rest of it.
Wait until the €10 bottle of wine start appearing on the shelves…
Could be counterfeit
Isnt it gas ,looks like shell and
the gardai
the gardai
That’s the liquor for the Xmas Garda dinner dance sorted….
Trojan work again by the Gardai going after the real big time ,money making criminals. …
Move along, move along, nothing to see here!
Can you give us all a list of the laws you want the Gardai to ignore?
Just gotta source a few blocks of skunk and man, they’ll have a right party! !
Misuse of Drugs Act 1977,1984
The Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010
WATER SERVICES ACT 2013
Whatever legislation is stopping the Gardai from bringing HSBC tax fraudsters to justice
Good man Kevin.. So you want the gardai to ignore the misuse of drugs act which includes importation and sale/supply of heroin.. Excellent choice.. Not
That whole “blah blah blah…not” routine lost its edginess in the early 90′s.
The main issue people have is that a person in Ireland can be arrested within a few months by the Gardaí for such a petty crime as half-payment of a TV license fine while mass tax evasion remains completely unchallenged.
“unfair competition for pubs etc in the area, who are employing staff, operating legally”.
The pubs are already operating in a rigged market due to the restrictive licencing system. Licenses should be available on application where a need is demonstrated.
All of his Facebook friends must have been coming over for a drink!
“Needless to say drink is securely stored in the meantime”
Lol,etc etc
There has to be a line where you are just serving drinks with friends and not breaking the law.
Let’s find it.
Nobody has that many friends.
These places pay no tax, no employers prsi, no public liability insurance etc. – how could any legitimate enterprise compete? If it was a bigger company not paying tax and such people would be baying for blood, just because they are serving booze doesn’t make it right.
It’s where money crosses hands
Egg head….there’s this thing called jobbridge……..
I’m guessing hiring staff and charging for the drink is well past that line.
Clearly, I need to hang out in different social circles.
Found it
You know what also is hard for off-licenses to compete with? Rivals that get free staff from Jobsbridge.
Picture should be captioned with “Off licence closing at 10pm, better get a few extra just in case”
They should be out catching real criminals
Like Apple….
That comment was in relation tax dodging…damn you Journal and your lack of editing options
That’s the Gardai Christmas party sorted
When the court case is over I understand the haul will have to be permanently disposed of by members of the Gardai, dattle be a night to remember!
Looks like whoever took the picture had a few on board,it’s fairly blurry in fairness
When the court case is over I understand the haul will have to be permanently disposed of by members of the Gardai, Seattle be a night to remember!
the garda party ….. the bang of fire works…and question time…where is me drink
have your say