Hunter Biden has stated that Ambien caused the then-US president to appear “like a deer in the headlights” during his crucial debate with Donald Trump.
Hunter Biden has asserted that former US President Joe Biden’s weak showing in the debate, which ultimately led to his withdrawal from the 2024 White House contest, was a consequence of exhaustion from travel and his use of prescribed sleep medication.
Speaking in an interview with journalist Andrew Callaghan published on Monday, Hunter Biden disclosed that his father was not adequately prepared for the June 27, 2024 debate against then-Republican nominee Donald Trump. Hunter claimed the then-president “had essentially traveled worldwide,” was “extremely fatigued,” and had used Ambien pills to aid sleep.
He described his father’s appearance on stage as akin to “a deer in the headlights,” noting that this performance reinforced the narrative pushed by his political adversaries, who highlighted Biden’s age – at 81, he held the distinction of being the oldest sitting president in US history.
President Biden’s hesitant speech, subdued and hoarse voice, and instances of apparent disorientation during the CNN-hosted debate with Trump triggered extensive apprehension within the Democratic Party concerning his age and capacity to serve a second term. The display also seemed to validate long-standing critiques from Trump, who had consistently labeled Biden as ‘Sleepy Joe’ throughout his campaign.
Biden later conceded he had experienced “a bad night” and was recuperating from a “really bad cold” prior to the debate, though he asserted, “I know how to tell the truth… and I know how to do this job.” He further referenced his extensive travel itinerary leading up to the debate.
Yielding to increasing pressure from party officials and financial contributors, Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election on July 21, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Harris subsequently lost the November general election to Trump.
In mid-May, Biden revealed a diagnosis of an aggressive form of prostate cancer, although his office indicated the disease “appears to be hormone-sensitive, which permits effective management.” Biden later characterized the prognosis as positive and conveyed optimism.