USA's President Joe Biden says he was sick during the debate against Donald Trump last week.
I felt terrible, says Biden in a first TV interview after the heavily criticized performance.
Four party colleagues in Congress have publicly demanded that Biden step aside before the autumn election.
I was exhausted. I didn't listen to my instincts when it came to preparations, says Biden about his performance in the debate and adds that he had a "bad evening".
They took a test to see if I had any infection, you know, a virus. I didn't. I was just really worn out, he continues in the TV interview with ABC.
Biden, 81, emphasizes that he is still in good shape and that he is the most qualified candidate to take on Donald Trump. But he does not intend to undergo an independent health examination that shows whether he is healthy enough for four more years in the White House.
I have a cognitive test every day, answers Biden, referring to the challenges he faces as president.
Demands from party colleagues
But the pressure on Biden has increased after the disastrous debate performance.
Four Democrats in the House of Representatives – Mike Quigley from Illinois, Seth Moulton from Massachusetts, Lloyd Doggett from Texas, and Raúl Grijalva from Arizona – have publicly demanded that Biden step aside for an alternative, as yet unclear, presidential candidate.
Leading Democrats in the House of Representatives are meeting remotely on Sunday to discuss the situation, according to a source with insight to AP.
Even Democrats in the Senate are doubting Biden's ability to beat Trump, according to American media.
Virginia Democrat Mark Warner has tried to gather a group of senators to ask Biden to withdraw his candidacy, according to two sources for Washington Post. Warner is said to have expressed concern that Biden does not have the ability to run a campaign that can beat Trump, according to the sources.
Biden: Out of the question
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said in a carefully worded statement on Friday that Biden now has a decision to make about "the best way forward".
"In 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," said Healey.
After the TV interview with ABC was recorded, Biden told reporters that he "completely rules out" stepping aside and letting someone else run against Trump in the November election.
I am nominated for this party because millions of Democrats who just voted for me in the primary elections all over America. They voted for me to be your nominee, said Biden during a campaign meeting in Wisconsin, according to CNN.
