WATCH: Biden Laughs about His “Too Tired” Comment

President Joe Biden recently laughed when asked by a reporter about changes in his public engagements where he would not participate in events past 8 p.m.  Biden has faced substantial criticism in the wake of his poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump, where many are concerned about his age and cognitive fitness.

For context, recent reports indicated that President Biden previously told a group of Democratic governors during a meeting that he needed to schedule his events before 8 p.m. so the 81-year-old could gain more rest and work fewer hours.  Many have found it concerning that the commander-in-chief must limit his availability in his paramount role of representing the United States.

During President Biden’s rare solo press conference on Thursday, a reporter asked him about his current “limits” and what implications that would have on his ability to serve a second term successfully if reelected. Can you say you’ll be up for that next year, in two years, in four years, given the limits you’ve acknowledged that you have today?”

Biden paused momentarily with a confused expression before he asked, “The limits I’ve acknowledged I have?”  The reporter further clarified what she meant by the suggestion of limitations, responding to Biden, “There’s been reporting that you’ve acknowledged that you need to go to bed earlier, end your evening around eight.”

“That’s not true,” the president hit back immediately before chuckling at the question.  “What I said was, instead of my every day starting at seven and going to bed at midnight, it’d be smarter for me to pace myself a little more. And I said, for example, the 876, stuff, instead of starting a fundraiser at nine o’clock, start at eight o’clock, people get to go home by 10 o’clock,” Biden said.

Biden further addressed the “stupid mistake” he made on the debate stage against Donald Trump that has drawn substantial criticism from within his party, but maintained that his schedule is “full bore.”  He said, “That’s what I’m talking about. I’m not talking about. And if you look at my schedule. Since I’ve since I made that stupid mistake of in the campaign in the debate. I mean, my schedule has been full bore.”