At a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday, former President Donald J. Trump suggested that President Joe Biden might be using medical supplements to prepare for their upcoming presidential debate, mocking his rival’s preparations as a sign of weakness.
Speaking at the Liacouras Center, Trump claimed that Biden was being prepped in seclusion, insinuating that he might receive a chemical boost before the debate. “Right now, crooked Joe has gone to a log cabin to ‘study,’” Trump said, miming quotation marks. “He’s sleeping now because they want to get him good and strong. So a little before debate time, he gets a shot in the ass.”
Trump’s remarks come after months of challenging Biden to debate, taunting him with an empty lectern and implying that Biden was avoiding the stage. With two debates scheduled for June 27 and September 10, Trump appeared to be setting expectations for a tough contest by accusing Biden of using a chemical edge.
During the rally, Trump avoided his usual attacks on Biden’s mental capacity, instead preparing his supporters for the debate by suggesting Biden might use illicit substances. “I say he’ll come out all jacked up, right?” Trump said, before questioning the whereabouts of a bag of cocaine previously found in the West Wing.
Despite building anticipation for a head-to-head encounter with Biden, Trump criticized the debate format, which includes a lack of a live audience and other agreed-upon rules. “It’s like death,” Trump remarked. “This could be the most boring — or it could be the most exciting. Who knows?”
Ahead of the rally, Trump visited a South Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant, signaling that the event was part of his debate preparation. He consulted the crowd on debate strategy, asking whether he should be “tough and nasty” or “be nice and calm and let him speak.” The overwhelmingly negative response to the latter option drew laughter from Trump.
Trump’s rally was his first in Philadelphia, a crucial city in a battleground state that played a significant role in both his 2016 victory and his 2020 loss. The event drew both supporters and protesters, including union members chanting “lock him up” outside the arena.
During his speech, Trump focused on familiar themes, criticizing Biden’s handling of inflation, energy policies, and immigration. He claimed that Black and Hispanic Americans were disproportionately affected by undocumented immigration.
Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs remain critical targets for both the Trump and Biden campaigns, with Trump attempting to win over Black voters who were key to Biden’s 2020 victory. Democrats, meanwhile, countered with billboards portraying Trump as detrimental to Black Americans.
As the debate approaches, Trump’s comments have set a contentious tone, underscoring the high stakes of the upcoming electoral contest.
