Hunter Biden has attributed his father Joe Biden’s widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump in June 2024 to exhaustion from international travel and the use of prescription sleep medication, according to a recent interview. Speaking to journalist Andrew Callaghan in a conversation released Monday, the younger Biden described the then-president as “tired as s**t” ahead of the CNN-hosted showdown, which intensified scrutiny over the 81-year-old’s age and fitness for office. “He flew around the world basically, took an Ambien to sleep… got up on stage and looked like a deer in the headlights,” Hunter Biden stated, suggesting the circumstances amplified political opponents’ focus on his father’s advanced age.
The June 27 debate saw Biden struggling with a raspy voice, sporadic pauses, and moments of apparent disorientation, sparking alarm within Democratic ranks about his capacity to campaign effectively. The performance galvanized Republican criticism, with Trump—who had long mocked Biden as “Sleepy Joe”—declaring the spectacle validated concerns about his rival’s sharpness. While Biden acknowledged afterward that he’d had “a bad night” and attributed his condition to a severe cold and a grueling pre-debate travel schedule, internal party doubts escalated. By July 21, mounting pressure from donors and Democratic leaders led Biden to exit the presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee. Harris later lost the November election to Trump.
The disclosure comes months after Biden revealed in May 2024 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, described by his medical team as hormone-sensitive and manageable. At the time, the president expressed optimism about his prognosis, though his son’s recent comments have drawn renewed attention to how health factors may have influenced his political trajectory. During the campaign, Biden consistently defended his record and mental acuity, stating, “I know how to tell the truth… and I know how to do this job.” However, the debate’s fallout underscored persistent voter concerns about age in leadership—a theme that overshadowed his tenure as the oldest U.S. president in history.
The episode raises questions about the intersection of health, media scrutiny, and electoral politics, particularly as global audiences grapple with similar debates over aging leaders. Analysts note that while Biden’s withdrawal marked a historic pivot in the 2024 race, its repercussions continue to shape discussions about transparency and resilience in modern governance.
