Desperate Biden, 81, laughs at tests supposed to explain why he ‘can’t finish his sentences’, insists he ‘doesn’t care’ about calls to quit and dares Democrats to challenge him in rambling interview

President Joe Biden, 81, pulled a Trump trick on Monday by calling into a sympathetic TV show to defend himself amid calls to step aside and dare critics to run against him at next month’s party convention.

He laughed off suggestions that he would be tested to explain his poor debate performance and stressed that he would not withdraw from the election.

Instead, he listed the achievements of his government and portrayed his critics as an out-of-touch elite fighting for its own political life.

And he laughed when Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski asked him if he’d been tested for pre-Parkinson’s or other conditions that might explain why he couldn’t finish a sentence during his debate with Donald Trump.

“I had that before. I felt so bad before the debate,” he said. “When I came back, they tested me before. I thought maybe I had COVID. Maybe something was wrong … I had an infection or something.

“They tested me, they gave me those tests. I was clear. But I had a bad night.”

Increasingly, Democratic donors, officials and elected officials are urging Biden to concede re-election in favor of someone else who may be better positioned to beat Trump.

A DailyMail.com poll showed Trump widening his lead over the president to six points last week.

Biden fought back last week with radio interviews, a prime-time television appearance and a weekend of campaign events.

But the effort raised as many concerns as it answered. Mistakes were made and it was revealed that a radio interviewer had been given approved questions.

Things are expected to intensify this week as members of Congress return to Capitol Hill from their July 4 vacation. Nine have already called on him to step aside.

Biden wrote them a two-page letter on Monday calling for an end to the drama within the party.

And he told Morning Joe that the big names calling for him to step aside — from the editorial board of The New York Times to Rep. Jerry Nadler to former presidential candidate Tim Ryan — were out of touch with reality.

“I don’t care what these big names think. They were wrong in 2020, they were wrong in 2022 on the red wave. They’re wrong in 2024,” he said, urging them to join him on the campaign trail to see how black voters in particular still stood behind him.

Biden makes a campaign stop at an AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) union local in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Biden was leading Trump at this time last year, but has since seen the former president steal a lead. Trump now holds a six-point lead, according to our exclusive poll

Supporters said the interview flowed smoothly and his voice was strong, but his tendency to mumble meant his words were sometimes hard to follow over the phone.

And Republicans said it sounded like he was reading his text from notes.

Biden insisted he remained his party’s choice for the nomination.

“I get so frustrated with the elites. By the way, I’m not talking about you… the elites in the party,” he said.

“They know so much more? If any of these guys think I shouldn’t run… then run. Announce yourself for president. Challenge me at the convention.”

Earlier, his campaign released the two-page letter to congressional Democrats.

“We have 42 days until the Democratic Convention and 119 days until the general election,” he said.

“Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It is time to come together, move forward as a united party, and defeat Donald Trump.”