Joe Biden soft-pedals on flop debate with Trump and admits 'bad episode' was no one else's fault

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden claimed that his abysmal performance at the first presidential debate against Donald Trump on June 27 was nothing more than a bad episode for which he was the only one to blame, reported Fox News.

The remarks came as the incumbent sat down with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos for his first major television interview since the debate on Friday, July 5.

Joe Biden admits his debate with Trump a 'bad episode' 

Voices have been raised from within the Democratic Party and its supporters on whether the incumbent is fit to serve for a second term after he was seen incoherently fumbling and losing his chain of thought in the middle of the debate. On that note, Stephanopoulos asked Biden if his performance was "a bad episode or the sign of a more serious condition?"

"It was a bad episode, no indication of a serious condition. I was exhausted. I didn't listen to my instincts in terms of preparing. It was a bad night," he replied, without clarifying what was going through his head during the debate.

"The whole way I prepared – nobody's fault. Mine. Nobody's fault but mine. I prepared what I usually would do sitting down, as I did coming back with foreign leaders or the National Security Council, for explicit detail. And I realized partway through that, you know, that — I could quote it," noted Biden.

"The New York Times had me down at ten points before the debate. Nine now, or whatever the hell it is. The fact of the matter is, that when I looked at, is that, he also lied 28 times," he continued, slamming Trump. "I couldn't, I mean, the way the debate ran, not – my fault. No one else's fault. No one else's fault." Biden stated that he did not think he watched the debate afterward, and claimed that he was sick at the time of the event.

"I was feeling terrible," he said. "Matter of fact, the docs with me, I asked if they did a Covid test because they were trying to figure out what's wrong. They did a test to see whether or not I had some infection, you know, a virus. I didn't. Just had a really bad cold."

Internet says Joe Biden desperately trying to change the narrative

Responding to the news on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), a user wrote, "Admitting faults shows humility and a commitment to transparency, which are crucial in leadership."

"For the first time I believe him," stated another.

"Taking ownership. Something Trump has never done," noted a third.

"What will be his excuse the next time?" jibed a fourth user.

"He is really trying to change the narrative. It’s not gonna work but he is trying," commented a fifth.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.