(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden said it’s his nature to go all out all the time, but he’s learning to make adjustments as he moves forward.
“I’ve always had an inclination, whether it’s playing sports or doing politics, just to keep going, not stop,” Biden said during a one-hour solo news conference Thursday night. “I just gotta pace myself a little more,” he added.
After delivering prepared remarks about the NATO summit, the U.S. economy, the problems at the southern border and the Israel-Hamas war, Biden was peppered with questions about his candidacy and, at 81, if he’s still physically capable of being president.
“If I slow down, I can’t get the job done. That’s a sign I shouldn’t be doing it. But there’s no indication of that yet. None.”
Biden also vigorously pushed back on last week’s reports that he told Democratic governors he needs to get more sleep and work fewer hours, and avoid events held after 8 p.m.
“What I said was, instead of every day starting at 7 and going to bed at midnight, it would be smarter of me to pace myself a little more. And I said, for example … instead of starting a fundraiser at 9 o’clock, start at 8 o’clock. People get to go home by 10 o’clock.”
He then recounted the full days he’s had since those comments, as opposed to his November opponent, former President Donald Trump.
“Where’s Trump been? Ridin’ around in his golf cart, fillin’ out his scorecard before he hits the ball? He’s done virtually nothing. I’ve done … roughly 20 major events.”
Biden also addressed European leaders’ concerns about a second Trump presidency and what it could mean to the NATO alliance.
“I’m not hearing any of my European allies come up and say, ‘Joe, don’t run.’ What I hear them say is, ‘You gotta win. You can’t let this guy come forward. It would be disaster.’”
Asked about whether he would submit to more cognitive exams, Biden said he — unlike Trump — has taken three “significant and intense” exams in the past few months and said they’re all part of the public record.
“I’ve laid every bit of the record out. You ought to ask Trump for his, O.K?”
He also acknowledged that it may not matter how many exams he takes when it comes to easing public fears about his health.
“No matter what I did, no one’s gonna be satisfied. (But) I am not opposed, if my doctors tell me, that I should have another neurological exam, I’ll do it.”
Biden also had a short, strong answer to a reporter asking if he’s worried about tarnishing his legacy by staying in the race.
“I’m not in this for my legacy. I’m in this to complete the job I started.”