President Biden’s campaign is under scrutiny as they repeatedly avoided answering a direct question about whether Biden plans to take performance-enhancing drugs before the CNN Presidential Debate. This comes as former President Trump and other lawmakers demand that Biden undergo a drug test before the debate to address concerns about his mental acuity.
While the Biden campaign dodged the question twice, they dismissed the accusations as desperate lies from Trump and his allies. On the other hand, the Trump campaign responded directly, stating that President Trump has no plans to take any performance-enhancing drugs and has challenged Biden to do the same.
Despite the allegations, there is no clear evidence that Biden has used any such substances during his time in the Oval Office. Calls for a drug test stem from concerns about Biden’s cognitive functioning, especially after reports of him freezing at public events and being redirected by others.
Former White House physician Ronny Jackson has urged Biden to take a pre-debate drug test, emphasizing the need for transparency given the concerns raised about Biden’s mental acuity. The White House has dismissed criticisms of the president as partisan attacks and emphasized Biden’s effectiveness in office.
Special counsel Robert Hur’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents has also raised concerns about his cognitive abilities, describing him as an elderly man with a poor memory. The report sparked outrage over the implications of a president deemed too cognitively impaired to face criminal charges.
Critics and the media have pointed to a series of recent gaffes and missed cues from Biden as evidence of cognitive decline. Videos showing Biden freezing at public events have been dismissed by the White House as disinformation promoted by right-wing critics.
Despite the scrutiny, Biden’s campaign strategy has been relatively low-key, with few campaign rally speeches lasting longer than 30 minutes this year. In contrast, data shows that Biden has held fewer news conferences compared to Trump and Obama during the same time periods.
As the debate approaches, the focus remains on whether Biden will address the calls for a drug test to dispel concerns about his mental acuity. The outcome of the debate and Biden’s performance will likely play a significant role in shaping public perception of his capabilities as president.