Evie Summers
US President Joe Biden has admitted that he needs more sleep. The 81-year-old president made the comment during a meeting with Democratic governors in July 2024, following concerns about his health and reelection campaign after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 4 July 2024 |
| Who Biden spoke to | Democratic governors |
| Number of governors | Nearly two dozen |
| Location | The White House |
| Biden's age | 81 |
| Biden's plans | To get more sleep, work fewer hours, and cut down on events after 8 pm |
| Biden's performance | Poor, with multiple verbal slip-ups and a loss of train of thought |
| Biden's response to concerns | He was staying in the race and blamed his performance on his busy travel schedule and intense preparation |
| Biden's health | "It's just my brain," he said in response to a question about his health |
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What You'll Learn
Biden's admission of fatigue
On July 4, 2024, US President Joe Biden reportedly admitted to a group of Democratic governors that he needed to get more sleep and work fewer hours, including curtailing events after 8 pm. The comments came after Biden's debate performance against former President Donald Trump the previous week, during which he had multiple verbal slip-ups and lost his train of thought several times.
Biden, who was 81 years old at the time, told the governors that he had been feeling fatigued and needed to reduce overwork. He referenced his extensive foreign travel in the weeks before the debate, as well as his intense preparation for the debate, as reasons for his poor performance. Biden also said that he had been pushing himself too hard and not listening to his staff's advice about his schedule.
According to the New York Times, Biden told the governors:
> "I told my staff I needed to get more sleep. I've been pushing too hard and not listening to my team about my schedule. I need to work fewer hours and avoid events after 8 p.m.""
The topic of Biden's health and fatigue came up at a crucial meeting aimed at shoring up support among key senior Democratic figures. Governors Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan emerged from the meeting pledging their ongoing support for Biden as the presumptive party nominee for the November 2024 election.
Despite his admission of fatigue, Biden insisted that he was not "going anywhere" in the race for re-election. However, his comments sparked criticism and concerns about his ability to carry out the duties of the presidency and mount a robust campaign. Some Democratic leaders called for Biden to step aside in the election, but he defied these calls and remained in the race.
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Biden's debate performance
US President Joe Biden's debate performance against Donald Trump in June 2024 was criticised as lacklustre, with the president himself admitting that it was not his best showing. Biden's low, raspy voice and repeated gaffes sparked concern over his chances of re-election.
Biden attributed his poor performance to fatigue caused by extensive foreign travel in the weeks leading up to the debate. He had made two trips to Europe and a stop in California in the three weeks before the debate, and had also spent six days at Camp David preparing. Biden also blamed a cold for his hoarse voice, and later a sore throat.
In a meeting with Democratic governors following the debate, Biden admitted that he needed to get more sleep and work fewer hours, including cutting down on events after 8 pm. He told the governors that he had been pushing himself too hard and ignoring his staff's advice about his schedule.
Biden's comments about his need for more rest came after reports that his lapses had become more frequent and pronounced in the months leading up to the debate. Some governors expressed concern that there was no extensive discussion about Biden stepping down in the race. However, Biden told the governors that he was staying in the race and not conceding. He also defied calls from some Democrats, including two sitting members of the House of Representatives, to step aside in the election.
Biden's campaign chair, Jen O'Malley Dillon, described his comment about his brain being the problem as a joke. Biden himself also made light of his debate performance, telling donors that he "almost fell asleep" on stage.
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Biden's travel schedule
US President Joe Biden's travel schedule has been quite busy, with various domestic and international trips during his presidency. In 2024, he visited several states, including California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, Florida, Georgia, and many others. He also made international trips to Europe, including France and Italy, and attended the G7 summit, meeting with world leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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Biden's health
On July 4, 2024, US President Joe Biden reportedly told a group of Democratic governors that he needed to get more sleep and work fewer hours. This came after Biden's debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27, 2024, where he had multiple verbal slip-ups and lost his train of thought several times. The president, who was 81 years old at the time, cited his busy travel schedule and intense preparation for the debate as reasons for his poor showing. He also mentioned that he had been ignoring his campaign team's advice and pushing himself too hard, and added that he would aim to plan fewer engagements after 8 pm.
Biden's comments about his health and fatigue sparked a firestorm of criticism and concern. Some questioned whether his age—he would be 86 by the end of a potential second term—was affecting his ability to carry out the duties of the presidency. There were also calls from within his own party for him to withdraw from the presidential race. However, Biden remained defiant, insisting that he was not going anywhere and that he had the stamina needed to challenge Trump.
The governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, who is a physician, asked Biden about his health during the meeting with the governors. Biden responded, "It's just my brain," which was received as a joke by some in the room. Biden's campaign chair, Jen O'Malley Dillon, also confirmed that the comment was made in jest.
Despite the backlash, several Democratic leaders who attended the meeting spoke out in support of Biden. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, described the conversation as "productive, honest, and open." Biden himself also defied calls to step aside, telling supporters in a campaign email, "Let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: I'm running."
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Reactions to Biden's comments
President Joe Biden's comments about his health and sleep schedule sparked a range of reactions from various individuals and groups. Here is a summary of the responses:
Democratic Governors: Governors who attended the meeting, such as California's Gavin Newsom and Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer, pledged their ongoing support for Biden as the presumptive party nominee for the upcoming November election. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, described the conversation as "productive, honest, and open." Walz also emphasised the governors' support for Biden, stating, "A path to victory in November is the No. 1 priority, and that's the No. 1 priority of the president, so that's what we're trying to get done."
The White House: The White House has remained confident in Biden's abilities to serve a second term, brushing off suggestions that he should step down or withdraw from the race. They denied reports that the president was considering withdrawing from the race.
Political Opponents: Biden's comments sparked criticism from political opponents and strategists. Chad Gilmartin, a conservative political strategist, described the report as "not reassuring." Christina Pushaw, former rapid response director for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, posted on Twitter, "It's okay to admit that an 81-year-old with dementia can't handle a demanding job... You aren't an 'ableist' for acknowledging reality." Stephen Miller, former senior adviser under the Trump administration, also commented on Biden's plan with a quip: "Biden 2024: More sleep. Fewer Hours."
Comedians: American comedian Bridget Phetasy responded to Biden's comments with humour, quipping, "Well, thank God nothing bad happens after 8 p.m.!"
Congressional Democrats: Some congressional Democrats, including two sitting members of the House of Representatives, called on Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee before November, expressing concern about his reelection chances after the debate performance. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) became the first sitting House Democrat to make this call, followed by Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Seth Moulton (D-MA).
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in a meeting with Democratic governors in July 2024, Biden said he needed to get more sleep and work fewer hours. He also said he would cut down on events after 8 pm.
Biden's statement came after concerns were raised about his health and competence following a poor debate performance against Donald Trump. Current and former officials had noticed that Biden's lapses had become more frequent and pronounced.
Biden attributed his poor performance to extensive travel and jet lag in the weeks leading up to the debate. He also said he had ignored his campaign team's advice and pushed himself too hard.
