Former President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by proposing a drug test for President Joe Biden ahead of their scheduled debate, scheduled for Thursday.
Trump announced his Truth Social platform, emphasizing his willingness to undergo the same testing.
Trump speaks at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s “Road to Majority” policy conference in Washington, D.C. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
In a social media post on Monday, Trump wrote, “DRUG TEST FOR CROOKED JOE BIDEN??? I WOULD ALSO IMMEDIATELY AGREE TO ONE!!!” This statement underscored Trump’s long-standing assertion that Biden relies on medication to maintain coherence during public appearances.
The call for a drug test was echoed by Republican Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas, a former White House physician now a congressman. Last week, Jackson penned a letter to Biden and his physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, demanding a “clinically validated drug test” before and after the debate. Jackson specified that the test should encompass performance-enhancing drugs, among others.
Trump’s amplification of Jackson’s demand for Truth Social came shortly after Jackson had initially published the letter.
Responding to the speculation about Biden’s mental acuity, White House Spokesman Andrew Bates likened Jackson to Dr. Nick, a fictional character from “The Simpsons” known for dubious medical practices.
During a rally at Temple University on Saturday, Trump addressed the upcoming debate, expressing confidence in his preparedness and casting doubt on Biden’s ability to retain information after preparation. Trump remarked to Fox News that while Biden may perform adequately during preparations, he believed Biden would quickly forget any details within an hour.
The proposal for a drug test has injected further tension into the lead-up to the debate, raising questions about the dynamics and rhetoric that will unfold between the former and current presidents on the debate stage.
