Former President Donald Trump recently suggested that President Joe Biden should undergo drug testing before their upcoming debate. On Sunday, Fox News host Maria Bartiromo expressed skepticism regarding these allegations from Republicans, noting, “we’re not doctors.”
In March, both Trump and Biden emerged as the leading candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively, for the 2024 presidential election after a series of primary victories. Their first debate is scheduled for June 27, to be hosted by CNN in Georgia, a crucial battleground state.
During a speech at the Minnesota GOP’s Lincoln Reagan Dinner in St. Paul, Trump insisted that Biden should take a drug test before the debate. He referenced Biden’s State of the Union (SOTU) address, implying that Biden appeared under the influence. “I’m gonna demand a drug test too, by the way. I am, no I really am. I don’t want him coming in like the State of the Union, he was high as a kite,” Trump declared.
Currently, there is no evidence supporting the claim that Biden uses drugs.
On Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Bartiromo discussed the issue with Representatives Byron Donalds and Anna Paulina Luna, both Republicans from Florida. She asked if they believed drug testing should be mandated before the debate. Donalds supported the idea, echoing Trump’s remarks and alleging that Biden might be using performance-enhancing drugs during his SOTU address. He stated, “I absolutely agree with that, there should. You can tell that Joe Biden comes in and is jacked up and as the hour goes by he slowly winds down, so the American people need to understand if they are giving him some injections so that he can actually look like he is coherent and like he is with us because other parts of the time he is not.”
Bartiromo responded cautiously, emphasizing, “These are obviously very serious charges that he is jacked up, we don’t know. We’re not doctors. We have no idea.”
Luna concurred with the necessity for drug testing, citing the president’s significant responsibilities, “We are talking about someone who has the ability to launch nukes. We need to ensure this individual is essentially capable of not just leading this country but can make those tough decisions.”
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was also asked by Bartiromo about drug testing for Biden. Kennedy Jr. laughed off the suggestion and emphasized the importance of debates for democracy, stating, “I just think that he should have to debate. I don’t think it’s good for democracy if we don’t have presidential debates.”
Biden’s State of the Union address was well-received, with polls indicating a positive public reaction. Christopher Phelps, a professor of modern American history at the University of Nottingham, previously told Newsweek, “In short, Biden had his game on. This was an unequivocal success that will put to rest any talk of another candidate stepping in to replace Biden and will likely mark a turning point in the polls.”
This isn’t the first time Trump has raised the issue of drug testing before debates. In 2020, he similarly suggested that Biden should be tested, citing inconsistencies in his debate performances. Biden’s deputy campaign manager at the time, Kate Bedingfield, responded dismissively, stating, “Vice President Biden intends to deliver his debate answers in words. If the president thinks his best case is made in urine he can have at it.”
Ultimately, no drug tests were conducted before the 2020 debates, and it remains to be seen if they will be implemented for the 2024 cycle.