'Has no intention of debating': Trump slammed as he 'demands drug test' ahead of debates with Joe Biden
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former President Donald Trump has reignited his demand for President Joe Biden to undergo a drug test ahead of their scheduled debates, raising eyebrows and stirring controversy once again.
Trump's call for a drug test stems from his assertion that Biden was "high as a kite" during his State of the Union address in March.
Donald Trump expresses concerns over Joe Biden's mental state
Speaking at a GOP dinner in St Paul, Minnesota, Trump expressed his intent to demand a drug test before facing off against Biden in the upcoming debates. "I just want to debate this guy, but you know – and I’m gonna demand a drug test too, by the way," Trump declared to Republicans gathered at the event.
Citing Biden's energetic delivery and rapid speech during his address, Trump emphasized his concerns about the president's mental state, stating, "I don’t want him coming in like the State of the Union. He was high as a kite."
Trump: I want to debate this guy but I’m going to demand a drug test pic.twitter.com/X9NCGloqoU
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 18, 2024
History of Donald Trump's calls for drug testing in presidential debates
This isn't the first time Trump has raised the issue of drug testing in relation to Biden. During the 2020 election campaign, Trump similarly called for drug tests ahead of their debates, citing what he perceived as Biden's "uneven" performances during the Democratic primaries.
According to the NY Post, However, despite Trump's repeated demands, neither candidate underwent a drug test before their debates in 2020. Now, with the announcement of two upcoming debates between Trump and Biden, scheduled for June 27 and September 10 respectively, Trump has once again brought the issue to the forefront.
Although Trump reiterated his stance, stating, "We’re going to demand a drug test," he notably did not mention whether he would take one himself.
Donald Trump's demand for drug test draws criticism
Trump's insistence on a drug test for Biden has prompted speculation and criticism from various quarters. Some have questioned the basis of Trump's claims, while others see it as a political ploy to undermine Biden's credibility.
The Biden campaign, for its part, has not issued an immediate response to Trump's latest demand. However, Rep Greg Murphy (R-NC), co-chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus, echoed Trump's sentiments after Biden's State of the Union address, suggesting that the president "must have been jacked up on something that day."
As the debate over drug testing continues to swirl, the focus remains on the upcoming face-offs between Trump and Biden. With the debates set to be hosted by major networks, including CNN and ABC, Trump expressed cautious optimism about their fairness, stating, "They’re going to be fair, I think they’re going to be fair enough."
Social media calls for reciprocity in drug testing
Social media responses to Trump's call for a drug test before the debates between him and Biden reflect a mixture of skepticism and demands for reciprocity.
One user wrote, "Lol, yep definitely test trump for drugs."
Another said, "Only if Trump takes one too."
Another added, "Take the word test out at the end and you know what he’s really saying ‘I’m going to demand drugs’."
Take the word test out at the end and you know what he’s really saying ‘I’m going to demand drugs’
— Armand Hamouth (@AreMond2) May 18, 2024
One user replied, "Scared of a drug test? Or scared of the truth?"
Another commented, "We know where this is going: Biden agrees, only if Trump takes one first Trump refuses and backs out."
We know where this is going:
— Ordinary Joel (@JoelOrdinary) May 18, 2024
Biden agrees, only if Trump takes one first
Trump refuses and backs out.
One user wrote, "He had no intentions of debating from the beginning. He was planning an excuse!"
He had no intentions of debating from the beginning. He was planning an excuse!
— Girly Girl🟧 (@whatifisaidit) May 18, 2024
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