03:49Mandatory credit: The White House
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre rejected speculation that Joe Biden is suffering from a form of 'dementia or a degenerative illness' on Tuesday while responding to a reporter at the first such briefing since the president's much-criticised debate with Donald Trump.
"I'm going to ask something delicate, and you may not like it; the president may not like to hear it if he's watching, but I think the American people need to get a yes or no answer on this," the journalist asked. "Does President Biden at 81 years old have Alzheimer's, any form of dementia, or degenerative illness that would cause these sorts of lapses?"
"I have an answer for you. Are you ready for it?" Jean-Pierre replied. "It's a no, and I hope you're asking the other guy the same exact question."
Earlier, Jean-Pierre accepted the president didn't have a 'great night' while reiterating the administration's claims that Biden's poor performance was largely down to a 'cold'.
"He had a hoarse voice; you all heard it, that's why you reached out, but 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," the press secretary said.
"We're not taking away from what you all saw or what the American people saw. We understand it was a bad night. It is not uncommon for incumbents to have a bad night on their first debate," she continued.
Jean-Pierre later argued that 'transparent' and 'thorough' reports have been released to the public regarding Biden's health, stressing that his medical team considered a cognitive test for the president as 'not necessary.'
"Is anyone in the White House hiding information about the president's health or his ability to do the job day to day?" she was asked, and replied: "Absolutely not."
During Thursday's debate, Biden and Donald Trump clashed over taxes, the border, Trump's ongoing legal issues, China, the Ukraine conflict - and even their golf handicaps.
According to media reports, Biden appeared to stumble and freeze several times. A snap poll found Trump the clear winner, with 67 per cent of those watching backing his performance to 33 percent for Biden.
On Tuesday, Democrat representative for Texas Lloyd Doggett became the first in his party to openly call for Biden to step down ahead of the election.
'Does Biden have Alzheimer's?' - WH spox rejects speculation on president’s health, admits debate was 'bad night'
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre rejected speculation that Joe Biden is suffering from a form of 'dementia or a degenerative illness' on Tuesday while responding to a reporter at the first such briefing since the president's much-criticised debate with Donald Trump.
"I'm going to ask something delicate, and you may not like it; the president may not like to hear it if he's watching, but I think the American people need to get a yes or no answer on this," the journalist asked. "Does President Biden at 81 years old have Alzheimer's, any form of dementia, or degenerative illness that would cause these sorts of lapses?"
"I have an answer for you. Are you ready for it?" Jean-Pierre replied. "It's a no, and I hope you're asking the other guy the same exact question."
Earlier, Jean-Pierre accepted the president didn't have a 'great night' while reiterating the administration's claims that Biden's poor performance was largely down to a 'cold'.
"He had a hoarse voice; you all heard it, that's why you reached out, but 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," the press secretary said.
"We're not taking away from what you all saw or what the American people saw. We understand it was a bad night. It is not uncommon for incumbents to have a bad night on their first debate," she continued.
Jean-Pierre later argued that 'transparent' and 'thorough' reports have been released to the public regarding Biden's health, stressing that his medical team considered a cognitive test for the president as 'not necessary.'
"Is anyone in the White House hiding information about the president's health or his ability to do the job day to day?" she was asked, and replied: "Absolutely not."
During Thursday's debate, Biden and Donald Trump clashed over taxes, the border, Trump's ongoing legal issues, China, the Ukraine conflict - and even their golf handicaps.
According to media reports, Biden appeared to stumble and freeze several times. A snap poll found Trump the clear winner, with 67 per cent of those watching backing his performance to 33 percent for Biden.
On Tuesday, Democrat representative for Texas Lloyd Doggett became the first in his party to openly call for Biden to step down ahead of the election.
Mandatory credit: The White House
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre rejected speculation that Joe Biden is suffering from a form of 'dementia or a degenerative illness' on Tuesday while responding to a reporter at the first such briefing since the president's much-criticised debate with Donald Trump.
"I'm going to ask something delicate, and you may not like it; the president may not like to hear it if he's watching, but I think the American people need to get a yes or no answer on this," the journalist asked. "Does President Biden at 81 years old have Alzheimer's, any form of dementia, or degenerative illness that would cause these sorts of lapses?"
"I have an answer for you. Are you ready for it?" Jean-Pierre replied. "It's a no, and I hope you're asking the other guy the same exact question."
Earlier, Jean-Pierre accepted the president didn't have a 'great night' while reiterating the administration's claims that Biden's poor performance was largely down to a 'cold'.
"He had a hoarse voice; you all heard it, that's why you reached out, but 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," the press secretary said.
"We're not taking away from what you all saw or what the American people saw. We understand it was a bad night. It is not uncommon for incumbents to have a bad night on their first debate," she continued.
Jean-Pierre later argued that 'transparent' and 'thorough' reports have been released to the public regarding Biden's health, stressing that his medical team considered a cognitive test for the president as 'not necessary.'
"Is anyone in the White House hiding information about the president's health or his ability to do the job day to day?" she was asked, and replied: "Absolutely not."
During Thursday's debate, Biden and Donald Trump clashed over taxes, the border, Trump's ongoing legal issues, China, the Ukraine conflict - and even their golf handicaps.
According to media reports, Biden appeared to stumble and freeze several times. A snap poll found Trump the clear winner, with 67 per cent of those watching backing his performance to 33 percent for Biden.
On Tuesday, Democrat representative for Texas Lloyd Doggett became the first in his party to openly call for Biden to step down ahead of the election.