In a bid to counteract the fallout from his poor debate performance, President Joe Biden sat down with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos for a primetime interview on Friday night. The interview, however, may not have alleviated voter concerns about his ability to serve another term.

Biden moved up the interview, originally scheduled for later, to address the immediate criticism following his debate against former President Donald Trump. During the interview, he asserted his achievements, claiming he had “shut Putin down” and reinforced NATO. Despite these claims, the ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia continues without a clear resolution.

Stephanopoulos pressed Biden on his mental fitness, asking if his debate performance was indicative of a more serious condition. Biden described the incident as a “bad episode,” attributing it to illness and exhaustion. “I had a bad night,” he conceded, noting that he was unprepared for the debate.

Biden also accused Trump of causing distractions during the debate, even when his microphone was turned off. Stephanopoulos highlighted media reports suggesting a pattern of decline, but Biden deflected, emphasizing his policy successes and diplomatic efforts. “We took on all the things we said we got done, were told we couldn’t get done,” he insisted.

Despite calls from within his party for an independent medical evaluation, Biden refused, stating that voters should judge his capabilities based on his performance. “I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I could handle it,” he said, maintaining an optimistic outlook.

Stephanopoulos questioned Biden’s low approval ratings and the likelihood of re-election with such numbers. “I’ve never seen a president with 36% approval get re-elected,” Stephanopoulos pointed out. Biden challenged these figures, asserting that his internal polls show a different reality.

When asked about his response if he loses to Trump in the upcoming election, Biden stated, “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the goodest job I know I can do, that’s what this is about.”

Biden concluded the interview by reaffirming his commitment to the race, declaring, “I’m staying in the race. I’ll beat Donald Trump and I’ll beat him again in 2020.”