Former President Donald Trump took to social media to call for President Joe Biden to undergo a drug test before their upcoming debate, suggesting he would also submit to such a test himself.
The accusation is not new, as Trump and his allies have repeatedly accused Biden of using performance-enhancing drugs to improve his physical and mental performance. The White House has consistently denied these allegations.
In response to Trump’s latest post, the Biden campaign dismissed the accusation, with cochairman Mitch Landrieu saying on Meet the Press that Trump’s claims were a common tactic to distract from the president’s policies.
Trump’s call for a drug test is not the first time he has made such a suggestion. In 2020, he joked that Biden would be “so jacked up” for their debate, and has repeatedly accused Biden of being under the influence of drugs.
Other Republicans have also joined in on the demand for Biden to take a drug test, including Rep. Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician. Jackson suggested that Biden might be using drugs to improve his cognitive function and to reduce his agitation.
Biden’s campaign has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them a “bizarre outburst” meant to distract from the president’s policies.