Politics

Trump team says Biden will ‘probably be filled with Adderall’ at presidential debate

A top adviser to Donald Trump said Tuesday that President Biden will “probably be filled with Adderall” at Thursday’s first presidential debate — the latest suggestion from the former president’s camp that his opponent will be drugged up on stage.

Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita told reporters in a press call previewing the CNN showdown that the Republican camp has been careful about setting expectations “too low” for Biden, 81, following a series of gaffes and bizarre behavior.

“In terms of literally on video, it happens on a daily basis,” LaCivita said, before adding, “but you know, he’s probably going to be filled with Adderall. [like] he was at the night of the State of the Union.”

The 45th president, 78, has repeatedly insinuated that Biden will be medicated during the 90-minute forum — saying over the weekend that the Democrat will get “a shot in the ass” and come out “jacked up” for the 9 p.m. event.

Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, June 22, 2024, at Temple University in Philadelphia. AP

Trump also suggested Monday that Biden should submit to a drug test, and offered to take one as well if the Democrat agreed.

The Trump team also stressed that Biden will likely be “ready” for the debate due to his experience in office and his week-long stay at Camp David preparing with his closest advisers.

“We know that when it comes to the big events, when it comes to debates, when it comes to State of the Union, things of that nature, that they’re going to have Joe Biden completely super-soldiered up. He is going to be ready to go,” senior adviser Jason Miller said.

“He has a certain muscle memory that kicks in, having done this for 50 years, having done this as a presidential candidate,” Miller added.

President Joe Biden speaks at an event marking the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on June 18, 2024 in Washington, DC. Getty Images

Other Republicans — including Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), a former physician to the president under Barack Obama and Trump — have voiced concern that Biden will be medicated.

Jackson sent a letter Monday to Biden and his physician, Kevin O’Connor, demanding that the president be tested for drugs before the debate.

Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) also told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo on Tuesday that he thinks Biden will be “jacked” up at the debate with Mountain Dew “or whatever it is he took” before the State of the Union.

Donald Trump attends a campaign event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 22, 2024. REUTERS
Signs promoting the debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and his rival former President Donald Trump are displayed around the venue at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, June 24, 2024. REUTERS

The two Trump advisers also repeated another familiar theme Tuesday, questioning whether debate moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will give both candidates a “fair shake.”

CNN set out the debate rules — including no studio audience, no prepared notes and having the candidates’ microphones cut off when their turn is over — after consulting with the Biden team last month.

Despite surprise in some quarters that Trump agreed to the debate terms, LaCivita played down the idea his man was at a natural disadvantage, saying: “Just the notion that we’re having a debate is a great thing.”

The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.