Biden refuses to take 'cognitive test', insists on winning US presidential election

US President Joe Biden has ruled out taking a cognitive test or undergoing an independent medical examination to determine whether he suffers from any neurological conditions, reiterating his determination to win the upcoming presidential election against his rival Donald Trump.

"I have a cognitive test every day. Every day I take this test, all I do is (a test)," he said in a pre-recorded interview with ABC News that aired Friday evening.

Referring to the debate he had against his rival Trump on June 27, the US president said: “There was no indication of any serious condition. I was exhausted. I did not listen to my instincts in terms of preparation, It was a bad night,” adding: “I had a bad night. I don’t know why.”

Asked by the host if he was realistic about beating Trump, given the widening gap between the two in opinion polls, Biden said: “I don’t think anybody is more qualified,” noting that he does not believe many of the polls that show him trailing Trump, and insisting that he can win.

"Every pollster I've talked to tells me it's a done deal," he said. "There's still a lot of time left in this campaign."

Biden denied that senior Democrats in Congress had asked him to step down, rejecting "suggestions" about what he would do if close allies urged him to withdraw.

He said he speaks regularly with Democratic leaders in Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

But the interview did little to assuage growing concerns in the Democratic Party about Biden’s candidacy. “Every day that he (Biden) delays makes it harder for someone else to come on board to defeat Donald Trump,” U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said after the interview.

"I don't see how he's going to continue as a candidate this week," said a senior House Democrat aide.

Biden has repeatedly refused to withdraw, despite growing calls for such a move since his "poor" performance in the first presidential debate against Trump.