Is Biden sick? President’s voice sounds raspy during debate against Trump

Joe Biden spoke with a noticeably raspy voice during Thursday night’s presidential debate against Donald Trump.

Joe Biden spoke with a noticeably raspy voice during Thursday night’s (US time) presidential debate against Donald Trump.

Mr Biden took on a question from CNN host Jake Tapper on inflation, answering by taking a swing at the former President.

“If you take a look at all that was done in his administration — he didn’t do much at all,” the commander-in-chief said. “By the time he left, things were in chaos.”

Mr Biden has had a raspy voice and a cough for several weeks, and his apparent cold didn’t stop for the debate.

President Joe Biden has a cold. Picture: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP

His voice sounded strained, and he coughed during the debate.

Several media outlets including NBC, CBS, Axios and Fox later confirmed Mr Biden has a cold, citing sources close to the President.

One top official told CBS Mr Biden was examined by the White House doctor at the Camp David retreat, who confirmed he had a cold.

The President tested negative for Covid, according to the report.

The Democrat is the oldest president in American history at 81, with his age being a frequent talking point ahead of the upcoming election.

At one point early in the debate, Mr Biden stumbled during an answer and seemingly froze on stage.

The President was fielding a question on the national debt.

The President had a strained voice and coughed. Picture: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

He said the country has “1000 billionaires” and if they paid 25 per cent in tax that would bring in $500 million to help pay off the debt.

But then it began to go south, with Mr Biden mumbling and stopping talking for a moment.

“[We’re] making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person … er, eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the … uh … with the Covid,” he said.

“Excuse me, with, dealing with everything we had to do with … uh … look.”

After a brief pause, he then said “we finally beat Medicare” as his final comment.

Medicare is a public health program in the US, similar to Australia’s Medicare, not something a Democratic president would want to “beat”.

“He was right — he did beat Medicare,” replied Mr Trump, jumping on the gaffe.

“He beat it to death and he’s destroying Medicare.”

— with Benedict Brook

This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced with permission