White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday downplayed concerns about President Joe Biden's debate performance last week.
"The president did not have a great night," Jean-Pierre told reporters in the White House press briefing. "The president had a cold. He had a hoarse voice. You all heard it."
Biden faced wide criticism for his performance at the CNN presidential debate last Thursday, at times trailing off in his responses. The president faces calls from some within his own party to step out of the presidential race as the Democrats' nominee.
"I will say this — and the president said this over the past couple of days, certainly right after the debate — he knows how to do the job," Jean-Pierre continued. "And he knows how to do the job, not because he says it, because his record proves it."
The press secretary touted Biden's "unprecedented" record during his first term.
"Joe Biden is a person," Jean-Pierre said. "Take away his title, he is someone who has dealt with tragedy. He is someone who has confronted that head on. He is someone who knows how to get back up once you've been knocked down."
