President Joe Biden greets supporters at a campaign rally at Sherman Middle School in Madison

The US president claims that "exhaustion" and a "bad cold" were the causes of his recent meltdown during a televised discussion with Donald Trump.

In a highly anticipated interview with ABC News, US President Joe Biden restated his claim to defeat Donald Trump in November's presidential election and referred to his previous catastrophic debate with the latter as "a bad episode."

In a videotaped interview, 81-year-old Joe Biden said to ABC News presenter George Stephanopoulos, "I have a cognitive test every single day," alluding to the everyday challenges he confronts in his role as president.

I’ve seen enough: It hard to imagine this good man beating Trump and serving four more years in the most demanding job on earth.

You see it too, Biden Dems. You’ve seen it for months. You’re doing your boss and your country a grave disservice. https://t.co/E2UN4Fvgl4

— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) July 5, 2024

“Every day, I’ve had tests. Everything I do,” he said. “I just had a bad night. I don’t know why.”

Given the widening polling difference between the two candidates and the mounting Democratic concern that Biden should resign, Stephanopoulos questioned whether Biden was being realistic in his belief that he could defeat Trump, 78. He also questioned whether the debate fiasco "was a bad episode or a sign of a more serious condition."

One in three Democrats, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey, want Biden to withdraw from the race.

“I don’t think anyone is more qualified,” Biden said in the interview, blaming his debate performance on exhaustion and a “really bad cold”.

According to Biden, the polls were unreliable.

When asked if he was more fragile, Biden said, "No."

"If the Lord Almighty comes out and tells me that, I might do that," Biden responded when asked if he would withdraw if other Democrats in Congress claimed his candidature was harming their prospects of winning reelection in November.

Concerned about the president's chances of winning against Trump or serving a another four years, Democrats were closely monitoring the 22-minute interview, which ABC claimed was uncut or modified. In the election, a Republican, following his shaky debate performance on June 27.

Even before the entire interview aired, it didn't seem to ease concerns among viewers regarding Biden's advanced age and suitability to run for office.

A handful of Democratic Party donors and business leaders are making their displeasure with Biden’s candidacy known loudly, halting funding or looking at possible alternative candidates.  Some of Biden’s closest political allies, including former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have raised questions about his health.

“It hard to imagine this good man beating Trump and serving four more years in the most demanding job on earth,” Ron Fournier, a former White House correspondent, said on social media alongside a clip of the ABC interview.

Democrats express concern over Trump's closing of the funding gap with Biden.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued a statement on Friday asking Biden to weigh his decision to run carefully, the rare Democratic governor not to issue a statement of support to the president in recent days.

“President Biden saved our democracy in 2020 and has done an outstanding job over the last four years,” she said.

US Supreme Court accepts Trump entitled to some immunity in the January 6 case, ending likelihood of trial before midterms.

“The best way forward right now is a decision for the president to make. Over the coming days, I urge him to listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump.”