Joe Biden's 'absolutely horrible debate' against Donald Trump due to Ambien, son Hunter says
In the days following a disastrous debate against Donald Trump in the first U.S. presidential debate last summer, then-president Joe Biden eventually blamed fatigue for his poor showing that night.
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His son Hunter, in a rare one-on-one interview posted this week, said there was good reason for his father's fatigue in the 'absolutely horrible debate': staff had given the president a sleeping pill.
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The prescription drug is predominantly used to treat insomnia by helping people fall asleep faster and sleep for longer. According to the FDA, common risks for older adults can include confusion and memory problems, as well as next-day drowsiness.
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Biden later clarified to ABC that he was not implying his father was given Ambien directly before the debate and had 'no idea whether or not he used Ambien while travelling through multiple times zones in the weeks leading up to the debate.'
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'My point was that his debate performance was completely out of character then and now,' he said.
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Prior to a week of debate prep spent at Camp David between June 20-27, Joe Biden had travelled to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, then back to the U.S. to continue his campaign, according to NBC. He returned to Europe for the Group of Seven meeting on June 14 and was back in Los Angeles for a fundraiser on June 15 — 12 days prior to the tête-à-tête with Trump.
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