In an interview released Monday with YouTube creator Andrew Callaghan, the former president’s son said the then‑81‑year‑old Democrat had logged enough miles “to fly around the world three times” before the June 27, 2024, showdown in Atlanta.
“He’s tired as shit”, Hunter Biden said. “They give him Ambien so he can sleep. He gets on stage and looks like a deer in the headlights”.
Ambien is approved for short‑term treatment of insomnia. Joe Biden’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Monday.
The Democrat spent several days at Camp David rehearsing with aides, yet during the debate he regularly struggled to finish his thoughts, alarming donors and elected officials and dominating subsequent headlines.
Less than a month later, and trailing Trump in polls, Biden withdrew and endorsed then‑Vice President Kamala Harris, who went on to lose to Trump in the November election.
Joe Biden initially attributed his performance to jet lag from two early‑June trips abroad and a West Coast fundraiser.
Hunter Biden said he was furious at Democratic strategists and lawmakers who “abandoned” his father in the aftermath, calling their desertion “absolutely insane”.
Before arriving at Camp David, Biden had returned from the two European visits and crossed the United States coast‑to‑coast, leaving him “tired as hell”, his son said.
(jh)
Source: Reuters, Channel 5, Polskie Radio 24