Joe Biden “has a cold”, campaign team sources have claimed as the 81-year-old president faces scrutiny over his debate performance.
The incumbent president had two notable moments where he appeared to struggle to get his words out, with his political foe, Donald Trump, even suggesting his opponent “doesn’t know what he’s doing”.
Biden appeared to speak with a raspy voice when he took on questions from CNN host Jake Tapper.
And according to NBC reporter Kelly O’Donnell, two sources familiar with the situation say “President Biden has a cold”.
Joe Biden
CNN
Social media users were quick to hit out at the claim, including right-wing political commentator Mike Cernovich, who branded it a “mop up operation”.
The moment Biden’s critics have latched onto saw Trump claim his opponent “doesn’t know what he is saying”.
The former president then demanded his successor takes a cognitive test to ensure he is mentally capable of carrying out the duties required of a Commander-in-Chief.
It was one of the many topics Trump brought up as he went about looking to dismantle Biden's record.
The pair clashed on a variety of matters
CNN
Biden was commenting on the contribution made by billionaires on taxes and on childcare.
“If we finally beat Medicare”, he said, before being interrupted by host Jake Tapper.
“He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death”, Trump chimed in. “He’s destroying Medicare.”
Trump also accused Biden of nearly “wiping out” social security because of the “millions” of migrants at the southern border.
“What’s happened to our country is not to be believed”, he added.
The pair went on to discuss national debt soaring to record heights in the last eight years.
Trump continued to champion tax cuts he made under his leadership, saying they “spurred the greatest economy that we’ve seen”.
He added that when taxes are cut, the US took more in revenue and companies were as a result investing “trillions of dollars” back into the country.