Former US President Joe Biden’s performance during a key debate against Donald Trump was attributed to travel fatigue and the use of prescription sleeping pills by his son, Hunter Biden. In an interview with journalist Andrew Callaghan, Hunter claimed that his father, who was 81 at the time, looked ‘like a deer in the headlights’ during the debate, which amplified perceptions of his age. Biden’s appearance on the stage, characterized by halting delivery and moments of confusion, sparked widespread concern within the Democratic Party about his ability to serve another term. The debate performance also confirmed longstanding criticism from Trump, who had frequently referred to Biden as ‘Sleepy Joe’ throughout the campaign.
Biden later admitted he had ‘a bad night’ and was recovering from a ‘really bad cold’ before the debate, but maintained that he ‘knows how to tell the truth and do this job.’ Following mounting pressure from party officials and donors, Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race on July 21, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement. Harris went on to lose the November election to Trump. In mid-May, Biden disclosed he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, although his office said the disease ‘appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.’ Biden later described the prognosis as encouraging and said he felt optimistic about his health.