The Speaker of the House has weighed in on the speculation that President Joe Biden will use a substance to assist him during the upcoming presidential debate.
Speaker Mike Johnson discussed the rumor during an interview with CNN on June 26. The day before, President Donald Trump publicly requested Biden take a drug test.
“Look, there’s a lot of things that are said in jest,” Johnson said, per Mediaite. “Of course, no one expects that Joe Biden will be on cocaine.”
Biden and Trump will face off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle on June 27. The debate will be hosted by CNN at in Georgia.
Trump acknowledged the rumor that Biden may use a substance to enhance his performance in a post on Truth Social.
“DRUG TEST FOR CROOKED JOE BIDEN???” the presumptive Republican nominee wrote. “I WOULD, ALSO, IMMEDIATELY AGREE TO ONE!!!”
Trump previously suggested Biden used drugs to help him during their 2020 debate.
Biden’s campaign has denied and dismissed questions about possible drug use.
“It’s obviously ridiculous and not new,” said TJ Ducklo, a senior advisor to the campaign, per KTSM. “The reason is simple [Trump] doesn’t want to have stand on that debate stage and talk about his deeply unpopular record.”
Increasing concern about Biden’s mental health has seemingly fed speculation that he will need assistance during the upcoming event.
Polls from NBC News released in June of 2023 and February of 2024 consistently show that the Democrat’s mental acuity is a top concern for voters. At least 62 percent of voters said Biden not having the necessary mental and physical health to serve as president was a “major concern.” Another 14 percent said it was a “moderate concern.”
By contrast, just 33 percent of poll participants said Trump’s mental or physical health was a “major concern.”
A YouGov/CBS News poll conducted in early June found that 65 percent of voters believe Biden does not have the mental or cognitive health to serve as president.
The debate will last 90 minutes with two commercial breaks. Candidates are not allowed to interact with their campaign staff during the breaks. Microphones will be muted when it is not a designated time for a candidate to speak. Neither candidate will be given the opportunity to make an opening statement – a break from the traditional format.
Neither Trump nor Biden will be allowed to bring notes or props with them. A bottle of water, a notepad, and a pen will be provided on stage.
There will not be a live audience present during the debate, which will be moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
