President Biden Says He Nearly 'Fell Asleep on Stage’ During Debate

President Biden is offering up an mentation for his lackluster show debating Donald Trump ... helium says his question docket had him moving connected fumes, and feeling sleepy.

Biden made the excuse Tuesday astatine a run fundraiser successful McLean, Virginia ... and said helium astir fell dormant connected the statement stage.

POTUS blamed his deficiency of vigor connected being sapped from agelong trips successful the weeks earlier Thursday's archetypal statesmanlike debate, including a travel to France successful aboriginal June for the 80th day of D-Day.

Biden told the room, "I decided to question astir the satellite a mates of times ... soon earlier the statement ... I didn't perceive to my unit ... and past I astir fell dormant connected stage" ... according to excavation reports from the fundraiser.

Remember ... Biden went to France the archetypal week of June, flew to California for a large fundraiser successful Los Angeles connected June 15 and past spent a week preparing for the June 27 statement astatine Camp David.

Biden told supporters helium was not providing an excuse but an mentation ... and went connected to apologize for his statement show portion stressing the value of beating Trump astatine the ballot box.

Worth noting ... the statement started astatine 9 PM and Axios nationalist governmental analogous Alex Thompson joined america Monday connected "TMZ Live" and told america Biden is astatine his sharpest betwixt 10 AM and 4 PM and is prone to intelligence mistakes aboriginal successful the day.

Biden's chalking this up to pitchy lag, though. 🤷🏽‍♂️